Method and program for controlling portable information terminal

ABSTRACT

Address information of a mail to be transmitted by a mail communication function is extracted from the mail to be transmitted; a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted is extracted from a portable information terminal; and judgment is made as to whether the address information matches predetermined address information and whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined time zone. When the address information matches the predetermined address information, and the address information belongs to the predetermined time zone, an activation time at which a household appliance is to be activated is determined on the basis of the transmission time, and a control command for activating the household appliance at the activation time is transmitted to a network.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method and a program for controllinga portable information terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, there are proposed a control system for controllinghousehold appliances installed in a house from outside the house beforethe user returns home, with use of a portable information terminal suchas a smartphone or a tablet PC, and an application for a portableinformation terminal constituting the control system.

For instance, Patent Literature 1 discloses the following technique.Specifically, an air conditioner is operated at a time earlier than thetimer-set time of the air conditioner designated by the user by apredetermined time period. Meanwhile, when the user transmits anelectronic mail instructing to change the timer-set time from a portableinformation terminal, the timer-set time is changed, and the airconditioner is operated at a time earlier than the timer-set time afterthe change by a predetermined time period. Further, when the usertransmits an electronic mail instructing to operate the air conditionerfrom the portable information terminal, the air conditioner is operated.

The technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1, however, needs furtherimprovement.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 4,422,932

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In view of the above, a portable information terminal control methodaccording to an aspect is a method for controlling a portableinformation terminal connectable to a network, to which a target devicein a house, or a server for controlling the target device is connected,the portable information terminal being provided with a mailcommunication function, the control method causing a computer of theportable information terminal to:

extract, from a mail to be transmitted by the mail communicationfunction, address information of the mail to be transmitted when it isdetected that the mail communication function is activated;

extract a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted from theportable information terminal;

judge whether the address information matches predetermined addressinformation, with use of a first database in which the predeterminedaddress information is registered;

judge whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined timezone, with use of a second database in which the predetermined time zoneis registered; and

determine an activation time at which the target device is to beactivated on the basis of the transmission time, and transmit, to thenetwork, a control command for activating the target device at theactivation time when it is judged that the address information matchesthe predetermined address information and that the transmission timebelongs to the predetermined time zone.

The aforementioned configuration provides further improvement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a householdappliance control system in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server inthe household appliance control system in the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an owner householdappliance file;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a day-based householdappliance control file;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a life pattern file:

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portableterminal in the household appliance control system in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of theportable terminal;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a predetermined conditionfile;

FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example of a predeterminedcondition setting screen for use when the user inputs a predeterminedcondition;

FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating an example of a predeterminedcondition setting screen after input;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a householdappliance in the household appliance control system in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state file;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the state file:

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a condition setting operation to beperformed in the household appliance control system in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating a life pattern filegenerating operation to be performed when a mail is transmitted in thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration ofnotification data;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a file writing process;

FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating an example of the daily life of theuser;

FIG. 17B is a diagram illustrating an example of the daily life of theuser;

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first half of a lifepattern file generating operation after a mail is transmitted;

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second half of the lifepattern file generating operation after a mail is transmitted;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration ofnotification data to be transmitted from a household appliance to aserver;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a pattern analyzing process;

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram illustrating a household appliance controloperation on the basis of a generated life pattern file in the householdappliance control system;

FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first half of a householdappliance control process;

FIG. 24 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second half of thehousehold appliance control process;

FIG. 25A is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration ofan ON timer notification;

FIG. 25B is a diagram illustrating an example of data configurations ofON timer notifications for various types of household appliances;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of notification data;

FIG. 27A is a diagram illustrating an example of a mail, based on whichhousehold appliance control is started;

FIG. 27B is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation screen;

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of ahousehold appliance control system in a second embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portableterminal in the household appliance control system in the secondembodiment;

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of a predeterminedcondition file;

FIG. 31A is a diagram illustrating an example of a predeterminedcondition setting screen for use when the user inputs a predeterminedcondition;

FIG. 31B is a diagram illustrating an example of a predeterminedcondition setting screen after input;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a condition setting processoperation to be performed in the household appliance control system inthe second embodiment;

FIG. 33 is a sequence diagram illustrating a household appliance controloperation on the basis of a generated life pattern file;

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of ahousehold appliance control system in a third embodiment;

FIG. 35 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server inthe household appliance control system in the third embodiment;

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating an example of a life pattern file;

FIG. 37 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portableterminal in the household appliance control system in the thirdembodiment;

FIG. 38 is a sequence diagram illustrating a household appliance controloperation on the basis of a life pattern file;

FIG. 39A is a diagram illustrating an example of an overview of servicesto be provided by a household appliance control system embodying theinvention;

FIG. 39B is a diagram illustrating an example, in which a devicemanufacturer corresponds to a datacenter operating company;

FIG. 39C is a diagram illustrating an example, in which both of or oneof a device manufacturer and a managing company corresponds to adatacenter operating company;

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an overview of services to be providedby a household appliance control system of service type 1 (a cloudservice provided by a datacenter of the applicant's company);

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an overview of services to be providedby a household appliance control system of service type 2 (a cloudservice utilizing IaaS);

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating an overview of services to be providedby a household appliance control system of service type 3 (a cloudservice utilizing PaaS); and

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating an overview of services to be providedby a household appliance control system of service type 4 (a cloudservice utilizing SaaS).

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(Findings Based on which the Invention has been Made)

When the user implements a control system for controlling householdappliances installed in the house from outside the house, and implementsan application for a portable information terminal constituting thecontrol system, it is assumed that the user controls the householdappliances installed in the house from outside the house, assuming theuser's behavior after returning home. For instance, when it is assumedthat the user takes a bath immediately after returning home, the usermay control a water heater in such a manner that supplying hot water toa bathtub is completed by the time when the user returns home. Further,when it is assumed that the user takes a meal about thirty minutes laterafter returning home, the user may control a rice cooker in such amanner that cooking rice by the rice cooker is completed thirty minuteslater after returning home so that the user can eat hot steamed rice.

Meanwhile, it is presumed that the user's daily behavior is roughlyfixed. For instance, it is possible to set a pattern for each userregarding how many minutes it takes for the user to arrive home afterleaving the office when the user returns home, whether the user takes abath first or takes a meal first after returning home, or by what timeschedule the user does these things. When the user does these things,the user may control the household appliances from outside the houseevery time in the same way. If the user is required to control thehousehold appliances from outside the house each time the user returnshome, the user may feel it cumbersome to control the householdappliances.

Further, not a few users may inform the family that the user is cominghome, using an electronic mail function of a portable informationterminal when the user leaves the office.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of remote controlling an airconditioner by changing the timer-set time of the air conditioner or byoperating the air conditioner with use of an electronic mail function ofa portable information terminal.

In Patent Literature 1, unless the user transmits an electronic mailwriting specific operation contents for the air conditioner, it isimpossible for the user to operate the air conditioner. Thus, PatentLiterature 1 requires to transmit an electronic mail writing thecontents to operate the air conditioner, each time the user returnshome. This may fail to solve the aforementioned drawbacks.

In view of the above, the inventors have achieved the following improvedconfiguration in order to enhance the functions of a portableinformation terminal under the circumstances as described above.

A portable information terminal control method according to an aspect isa method for controlling a portable information terminal connectable toa network, to which a target device in a house, or a server forcontrolling the target device is connected, the portable informationterminal being provided with a mail communication function, the controlmethod causing a computer of the portable information terminal to:

extract, from a mail to be transmitted by the mail communicationfunction, address information of the mail to be transmitted when it isdetected that the mail communication function is activated;

extract a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted from theportable information terminal;

judge whether the address information matches predetermined addressinformation, with use of a first database in which the predeterminedaddress information is registered;

judge whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined timezone, with use of a second database in which the predetermined time zoneis registered; and

determine an activation time at which the target device is to beactivated on the basis of the transmission time, and transmit, to thenetwork, a control command for activating the target device at theactivation time when it is judged that the address information matchesthe predetermined address information and that the transmission timebelongs to the predetermined time zone.

According to the aforementioned configuration, when it is judged thatthe address information of the mail matches the predetermined addressinformation, and that the transmission time of the mail belongs to thepredetermined time zone, the activation time at which the target deviceis to be activated is determined on the basis of the transmission time,and a control command for activating the target device at the activationtime is transmitted to the network.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance, as a behavior patternof the user of the portable information terminal, following the user'sbehavior of sending a mail informing the family of the user's returninghome, the user intends to activate a target device in the house such asturning on a water heater or an air conditioner. In this case, thetarget device in the house is activated on the basis of transmission ofthe mail, without the need of another operation by the user.

Thus, another application having a function of instructing activation ofthe target device in the house, which is likely to occur in response toexecution of the application having the mail communication function, isexecuted. This makes it possible to execute the functions of twoapplications by one operation of the user. Therefore, it is possible toexecute intended two applications, while reducing the processing load ofa target device when the target device in the house is remote controlledfrom the portable information terminal, without requesting the portableinformation terminal to operate the two applications.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the portable information terminal may include a memory which managesmanagement information indicating that the target device is to beactivated after elapse of a predetermined time period from thetransmission time of the mail including the predetermined addressinformation, and

the activation time at which the target device is to be activated on thebasis of the transmission time may be determined on the basis of themanagement information.

According to the aforementioned configuration, for instance, it ispossible to activate a household appliance according to the user'sbehavior after the user returns home, with use of the managementinformation in which it is recorded, for instance, how many minutes, ittakes to activate the target device from the transmission time of amail.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the management information may be received from the server via thenetwork.

According to the aforementioned configuration, for instance, it ispossible to collect log information indicating a change in the operationstate of the target device by the server, and to acquire managementinformation generated by the server with use of the log information bythe portable information terminal. Therefore, it is possible for theportable information terminal to acquire the management information thataccurately reflects the user's behavior pattern, without managing thelog information, and to activate the target device at an optimum timing.Further, it is possible to reduce the consumption amount of the memory.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the control command may be transmitted to the target device via thenetwork through the server.

According to the aforementioned configuration, the control command istransmitted to the target device via the server. Therefore, it ispossible for the server to manage the state of the target device byacquiring the control command.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the control command may be transmitted to the target device via thenetwork.

According to the aforementioned configuration, the control command isdirectly transmitted to the target device from the portable informationterminal through e.g. a home network. This makes it possible to promptlytransmit the control command to the portable information terminalwithout depending on the processing ability of the server.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the target device in the house may be a water heater for supplying waterto a bathtub in the house, and

the control command may be an instruction to supply water from the waterheater to the bathtub.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible toinstruct the water heater to supply water to the bathtub on the basis oftransmission of the mail by the user when the user returns home.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the control command may include information indicating a set temperatureof the water to be supplied.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to supplywater at the set temperature included in the control command by thewater heater.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the control command may include information indicating a time at whichsupplying water from the water heater to the bathtub is started.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to startsupplying water by the water heater at the time included in the controlcommand.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the target device in the house may be an air conditioner which adjusts atemperature of at least one room in the house, and

the control command may be an instruction to adjust the temperature ofthe one room to a predetermined temperature by the air conditioner.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to controlthe air conditioner in such a manner that the room temperature reachesthe temperature designated by the control command.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the control command may include information indicating a time at whichadjusting the temperature of the one room is started by the airconditioner.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to starttemperature adjustment by the air conditioner at the time included inthe control command.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the target device in the house may be a cooking heater which performsheat-controlled cooking, and

the control command may be an instruction to start the heat-controlledcooking by the cooking heater.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to startcooking by the cooking heater on the basis of the mail to be transmittedat the time when the user returns home.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the control command may include information indicating a time at whichthe heat-controlled cooking by the cooking heater is started.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to startcooking by the cooking heater at the time included in the controlcommand.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the cooking heater may be a rice cooker.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to startcooking by the rice cooker on the basis of the mail to be transmitted atthe time when the user returns home.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the cooking heater may be provided with a microwave generating means.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to startcooking by the cooking heater provided with the microwave generatingmeans on the basis of the mail to be transmitted at the time when theuser returns home.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance,

the cooking heater may be a steam cooker provided with a steamgenerating means.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to startcooking by the cooking heater provided with the steam generating meanson the basis of the mail to be transmitted at the time when the userreturns home.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance, the control methodmay further include:

collecting control start time periods, each of which indicates a timeperiod from the transmission time of the mail until the time at whichthe target device is to be activated, and

recording a control start time period having a high frequency among thecollected control start time periods in the management information.

According to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible toactivate the target device at a typical time at which the target deviceis to be activated on the basis of the transmission time of the mail.This is advantageous in controlling the target device, taking intoconsideration the user's life pattern.

Further, another aspect is directed to a method for controlling aportable information terminal connectable to a network, to which atarget device in a house, or a server for controlling the target deviceis connected, the portable information terminal being provided with amail communication function, the control method causing a computer ofthe portable information terminal to:

judge whether a mail to be transmitted by the mail communicationfunction includes a predetermined word, with use of a first database inwhich the predetermined word is registered, when it is detected that themail communication function is activated;

extract a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted from theportable information terminal;

judge whether the transmission time belongs to a predetermined timezone, with use of a second database in which the predetermined time zoneis registered; and

determine an activation time at which the target device is to beactivated on the basis of the transmission time, and transmit, to thenetwork, a control command for activating the target device at theactivation time when it is judged that the mail includes thepredetermined word and that the transmission time belongs to thepredetermined time zone.

According to the aforementioned configuration, when it is judged thatthe mail includes the predetermined word and the transmission time ofthe mail belongs to the predetermined time zone, the activation time atwhich the target device is to be activated is determined on the basis ofthe transmission time, and a control command for activating the targetdevice at the activation time is transmitted to the network.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance, as a behavior patternof the user of the portable information terminal, following the user'sbehavior of sending, to the family, a mail including a fixed message tobe used when the user returns home, the user may intend to activate atarget device in the house such as turning on a water heater or an airconditioner. In this case, the target device in the house is activatedon the basis of transmission of the mail, without the need of anotheroperation by the user.

Thus, another application having a function of instructing activation ofthe target device in the house, which is likely to occur in response toexecution of the application having the mail communication function, isexecuted. This makes it possible to execute the functions of twoapplications by one operation of the user. Therefore, it is possible toexecute intended two applications, while reducing the processing load ofa target device when the target device in the house is remote controlledfrom the portable information terminal, without requesting the portableinformation terminal to operate the two applications.

Further, yet another aspect is directed to a method for controlling aportable information terminal connectable to a network, to which atarget device in a house, or a server for controlling the target deviceis connected, the portable information terminal being provided with amail communication function, the control method causing a computer ofthe portable information terminal to:

judge whether a mail to be transmitted by the mail communicationfunction includes a predetermined word indicating a place, with use of afirst database in which the predetermined word is registered, when it isdetected that the mail communication function is activated;

extract a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted from theportable information terminal;

determine a position of the portable information terminal at thetransmission time of the mail on the basis of the word indicating theplace, with use of a database which manages the word indicating theplace and position information in association with each other;

calculate a time period required for a user of the portable informationterminal to return home on the basis of the transmission time and on thebasis of the position information;

calculate an activation time of the target device for use in setting thetarget device to a predetermined state at a predetermined time afterelapse of the required time period, on the basis of the transmissiontime and on the basis of the required time period; and

transmit, to the network, a control command for activating the targetdevice at the calculated activation time.

According to the aforementioned configuration, when it is judged that amail includes a word indicating a predetermined place, a time periodrequired for the user to return home from the place is calculated, andan activation time at which the target device is set to a predeterminedstate at a predetermined time (including a point of time when the userreturns home) after the user returns home is calculated. Then, a controlcommand for activating the target device at the activation time istransmitted to the network.

In the aforementioned configuration, for instance, as a behavior patternof the user of the portable information terminal, following the user'sbehavior of sending, to the family, a mail including a text including aword indicating a place when the user returns home, the user may intendto activate a target device in the house such as turning on a waterheater or an air conditioner. In this case, the target device in thehouse is activated on the basis of transmission of the mail, without theneed of another operation by the user.

Thus, another application having a function of instructing activation ofthe target device in the house, which is likely to occur in response toexecution of the application having the mail communication function, isexecuted. This makes it possible to execute the functions of twoapplications by one operation of the user. Therefore, it is possible toexecute intended two applications, while reducing the processing load ofa target device when the target device in the house is remote controlledfrom the portable information terminal, without requesting the portableinformation terminal to operate the two applications.

Further, a required home returning time period from the place indicatedby the word included in the mail is calculated. This makes it possibleto activate the target device according to the user's life pattern, evenif the user sends a mail from a place where the user usually does notsend a mail when the user returns home.

(Overview of Services to be Provided)

In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure are describedreferring to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments areexamples embodying the invention, and do not limit the technical scopeof the invention.

First of all, an overview of services to be provided by a householdappliance control system embodying the invention is described.

FIG. 39A is a diagram illustrating an overview of services to beprovided by the household appliance control system embodying theinvention. The household appliance control system is provided with agroup 1000, a datacenter operating company 1010, and a service provider1020.

The group 1000 is, for instance, a company, a party, or a home. Thescale of the group 1000 does not matter. The group 1000 is provided witha number of devices 1001 including a first device A and a second deviceB, and a home gateway 1002. The devices 1001 include devices (e.g. asmartphone, a personal computer (PC) or a TV receiver) connectable tothe Internet. Further, the devices 1001 include devices (e.g. anillumination device, a washing machine, or a refrigerator) incapable ofbeing connected to the Internet by themselves. The devices 1001 mayinclude devices which are not connectable to the Internet by themselves,but are connectable to the Internet via the home gateway 1002. Further,users 10000 use the devices 1001 within the group 1000.

The datacenter operating company 1010 is provided with a cloud server1011. The cloud server 1011 is a virtual server connectable to a varietyof types of devices via the Internet. The cloud server 1011 mainlymanages big data, which is difficult to be handled by an ordinarydatabase management tool or a like tool. The datacenter operatingcompany 1010 manages data, manages the cloud server 1011, and operates adatacenter which performs these services. The details of the services tobe provided by the datacenter operating company 1010 will be describedlater.

The datacenter operating company 1010 is not limited to a company whichmanages data or manages the cloud server 1011. For instance, asillustrated in FIG. 39B, in the case where a device manufacturer whichdevelops or manufactures one of the devices 1001 manages data or managesthe cloud server 1011, the device manufacturer corresponds to thedatacenter operating company 1010. Further, the number of datacenteroperating companies 1010 is not limited to one. For instance, asillustrated in FIG. 39C, when a device manufacturer and a managingcompany jointly or sharingly manage data or manages the cloud server1011, both or one of the device manufacturer and the managing companycorresponds to the datacenter operating company 1010.

The service provider 1020 is provided with a server 1021. The scale ofthe server 1021 does not matter. For instance, the server 1021 includesa memory in a PC for personal use. Further, the service provider 1020may not be provided with the server 1021.

In the aforementioned household appliance control system, the homegateway 1002 is not an essential element. For instance, when the cloudserver 1011 manages all the data, the home gateway 1002 is notnecessary. Further, when all the devices in a house are connected to theInternet, a device incapable of being connected to the Internet byitself may not exist. In this case, the service provider 1020 isprovided with another device that functions as the server 1021.

Next, a flow of information in the household appliance control system isdescribed.

The first device A or the second device B in the group 1000 individuallytransmits log information thereof to the cloud server 1011 in thedatacenter operating company 1010. The cloud server 1011 accumulates thelog information of the first device A or of the second device B (see thearrow (a) in FIG. 39A). The log information is information indicatinge.g. operation conditions or operation dates and times of the devices1001. For instance, the log information includes a viewing history ofTV, video recording reservation information in a recorder, a date andtime when a washing machine is operated, a quantity of laundry, a dateand time when a refrigerator is opened and closed, or the number oftimes of opening and closing a refrigerator. The log information is notlimited to these information, and may include a variety of types ofinformation acquirable from a variety of types of devices. The loginformation may be directly provided from the devices 1001 themselves tothe cloud server 1011 via the Internet. Further, the log information maybe temporarily accumulated in the home gateway 1002 from the devices1001, and may be provided from the home gateway 1002 to the cloud server1011.

Next, the cloud server 1011 in the datacenter operating company 1010provides the accumulated log information to the service provider 1020unit by unit. The unit may be the amount of information, by which thedatacenter operating company 1010 can organize and provide theaccumulated information to the service provider 1020, or may be theamount of information required from the service provider 1020. Further,in the embodiments, information is provided unit by unit. Alternatively,information may not be provided by a fixed amount, and the amount ofinformation to be provided may vary depending on a condition. The loginformation is stored in the server 1021 owned by the service provider1020, as necessary (see the arrow (b) in FIG. 39A).

The service provider 1020 organizes the log information into informationappropriate for the service to be provided to the user, and provides theorganized information to the user. The user to whom information isprovided may be a user 10000 who uses the devices 1001, or may be anoutsider user 20000. The information providing method to the users 10000and 20000 may be such that information is directly provided to the users10000 and 20000 from the service provider 1020 (see the arrows (e) and(0 in FIG. 39A). Further, the information providing method to the user10000 may be such that information is provided to the user 10000 via thecloud server 1011 in the datacenter operating company 1010 (see thearrows (c) and (d) in FIG. 39A). Further, the cloud server 1011 in thedatacenter operating company 1010 may organize the log information intoinformation appropriate for the service to be provided to the user, andmay provide the organized information to the service provider 1020.

The user 10000 may be identical to or different from the user 20000.

1. First Embodiment

In this section, a household appliance control system 10 (an example ofa device control system) in the first embodiment is described referringto the drawings. In the embodiment, the addressee of a mail and a timezone when the mail is transmitted are used as a predetermined conditionthat satisfies a mail, based on which household appliance control isstarted. The predetermined condition is set by the user in advance. Apredetermined addressee as the predetermined condition is the addresseeof a mail, based on which household appliance control is started. Apredetermined time zone as the predetermined condition is a time zonesuch that the user is not supposed to return home earlier than the starttime of the time zone, or a time zone during which household appliancecontrol is not started when the user returns home earlier than the starttime of the time zone. The time zone may be set in advance by the user.

FIG. 27A is a diagram illustrating an example of a mail screen G271 of amail, based on which household appliance control is started. In thisexample, a husband on the way home sends a mail to his wife B, using hisportable terminal, informing that he is now in Station S and isreturning home soon. For instance, when it is assumed that thepredetermined addressee is his wife B and his daughter C, and thepredetermined time zone is from 18:00 to 20:00, the portable terminalchecks whether the addressee of the mail is his wife B or his daughterC, and whether the mail transmission time belongs to the time zone from18:00 to 20:00. In this case, the mail addressee is his wife B, and thetransmission time is 18:10, which satisfy the predetermined condition.Therefore, the portable terminal transmits a mail transmissionnotification to a server.

1.1 Overall Configuration of Household Appliance Control System 10

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of thehousehold appliance control system 10 in the first embodiment. Thehousehold appliance control system 10 is provided with a cloud server(hereinafter, simply called as a “server”) 100, a portable terminal 200,a household appliance 300, a household appliance 400, and a householdappliance 500.

In FIG. 1, only the household appliance 300, the household appliance400, and the household appliance 500 are illustrated in a house 20. Thepresent disclosure, however, is not specifically limited to the above.For instance, the house 20 may be provided with four or more householdappliances, or may be provided with two or less household appliances.Each of the portable terminal 200, the household appliance 300, thehousehold appliance 400, and the household appliance 500 iscommunicatively connected to the server 100 via a network 40. Thenetwork 40 is, for instance, the Internet.

In FIG. 1, the household appliance 300 (an example of a target device)is a water heater for a bathroom, the household appliance 400 (anexample of a target device) is an air conditioner such as a heating andcooling device, an air cleaner, or a dehumidifier, and the householdappliance 500 (an example of a target device) is a cooking heater. Thisis merely an example. The household appliances 300 to 500 may be theother devices (e.g. AV equipment such as a TV receiver or a videorecorder, a microwave oven, a water heater, a washing machine, anillumination device, or an electronic shutter device). The householdappliance 400 corresponds to the device 1001 in FIG. 39A.

The embodiment is described based on the following scenario.

In the evening, the user A who owns the portable terminal 200 sends amail to wife B who is in the house 20 as their home from station S as atransfer station when he returns home. It takes thirty minutes fromstation S to the station nearest to the house of the user A by train,and it takes fifteen minutes to his house from the nearest station onfoot. A mail transmission notification is transmitted from the portableterminal 200 to the server 100, and is recorded by the server 100. Theuser A inputs a predetermined condition in advance. When the mailtransmission time and the mail addressee satisfy the predeterminedcondition, the portable terminal 200 transmits a mail transmissionnotification to the server 100. When the predetermined condition is notsatisfied, the portable terminal 200 does not transmit a mailtransmission notification to the server 100. When the server 100receives a mail transmission notification from the portable terminal200, the server 100 controls the household appliances on the basis of adaily control pattern of the household appliances in the house of theuser A.

In the embodiment, household appliance control is started on the basisof transmission of a mail. Alternatively, household appliance controlmay be started on the basis of receiving a mail.

1.2 Configuration of Server 100

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server 100in the household appliance control system 10. The server 100 is providedwith a collecting unit 101, an analyzing unit 102, an extracting unit103, a setting unit 104, a timer 105, a communicating unit 106, an ownerhousehold appliance database (DB) 107, a day-based household appliancecontrol database 108, and a life pattern database 109. Alternatively,the collecting unit 101, the analyzing unit 102, the extracting unit103, the setting unit 104, and the timer 105 may be implemented byproviding a controller 1 in the server 100 with the functions of theseelements. An example of the controller is a processor such as a CPU or amicrocontroller. Further, the owner household appliance database 107,the day-based household appliance control database 108, and the lifepattern database 109 are stored in a memory 2 of the server 100, forinstance. An example of the memory 2 is a rewritable non-volatilestorage device.

1.2.1 Communicating Unit 106

The communicating unit 106 receives, from the portable terminal 200, acontrol start notification notifying that control of the householdappliance 300, 400, or 500 is started. Further, the communicating unit106 receives, from the household appliances 300 to 500, informationindicating the time at which the operation states of the householdappliances 300 to 500 have changed, and information indicating operationstates after the change. Further, the communicating unit 106 transmits alife pattern file F500 (see FIG. 5) to be described later to theportable terminal 200. Further, the communicating unit 106 transmits acontrol signal for turning on or off the household appliances 300 to 500to the household appliances 300 to 500.

1.2.2 Collecting Unit 101

The collecting unit 101 collects information received from the portableterminal 200 via the communicating unit 106 and indicating a mailtransmission notification by the portable terminal 200; informationreceived from the household appliances 300 to 500, and indicating thetimes at which the operation states of the household appliances 300 to500 have changed; and information indicating operation states after thechange. The collecting unit 101 stores the collected information in theday-based household appliance control database 108, as a day-basedhousehold appliance control file F400 (see FIG. 4).

Further, when it is judged that the operation states of the householdappliances 300 to 500 have changed on the basis of the collectedinformation, the collecting unit 101 changes the operation states of theassociated household appliances in an owner household appliance fileF300 (see FIG. 3) within the owner household appliance database 107 tothe operation states after the change. Further, when the collecting unit101 receives a mail transmission notification from the portable terminal200, the collecting unit 101 outputs the mail transmission notificationto the extracting unit 103.

When the finishing condition of a day is satisfied, the day-basedhousehold appliance control file F400 is saved as a file for a day.Assuming that twenty-four hours is one day, and a time period from 0:00on a certain day to 0:00 on the next day is one day, when the time is0:00 on the next day, the finishing condition of a day is satisfied. Thecollecting unit 101 judges that the finishing condition of a day issatisfied when the time is 0:00 on the next day, and finishes recordingin the day-based household appliance control file F400, which is storedin the day-based household appliance control database 108. Then, whenthe time is 0:00 on the next day, the collecting unit 101 generates aday-based household appliance control file F400 of the next day, andrecords information on the next day in the generated day-based householdappliance control file F400 of the next day.

The details of the owner household appliance file and of the day-basedhousehold appliance control file will be described later in the section1.2.7 and in the section 1.2.8. In this section, a change in theoperation states to be recorded in the day-based household appliancecontrol file F400, and operation states of household appliances to berecorded in the owner household appliance file F300 are described.

Regarding the operation states to be recorded in the day-based householdappliance control file F400, and the operation states of householdappliances to be recorded in the owner household appliance file F300,the following operation states are included in each of the householdappliances. Specifically, the operation states of each of the householdappliances are ON, OFF, and COMPLETE. For instance, the illuminationdevice has operation states i.e. ON and OFF. The portable terminal 200has an operation state i.e. transmitting a mail.

The operation state of the portable terminal 200 is not recorded in theowner household appliance file F300, and is recorded only in theday-based household appliance control file F400. Further, regarding theoperation states of the household appliances 300 to 500, ON indicates astate that the household appliances 300 to 500 are turned on, and OFFindicates a state that the household appliances 300 to 500 are turnedoff. Further, COMPLETE indicates a state that the household appliances300 to 500 reach a set state after the household appliances 300 to 500are turned on.

In the following, the operation state COMPLETE is described using anexample. For instance, it is assumed that the household appliance is awater heater for supplying heated water to a bathtub in a house, and thewater heater accepts an instruction to supply heated water of apredetermined temperature to a predetermined water level in the bathtub.In this case, the water heater starts supplying heated water to thebathtub, and continues to supply heated water until the heated water tobe supplied reaches the predetermined water level and the predeterminedtemperature. In this case, the operation state of the water heater ischanged from OFF to ON when the water heater starts supplying heatedwater to the bathtub, and the operation state of the water heater ischanged from ON to COMPLETE when the heated water to be supplied reachesthe predetermined water level and the predetermined temperature.

1.2.3 Analyzing Unit 102

The analyzing unit 102 analyzes the order in which the householdappliances are turned on, and a difference in times at which therespective household appliances are turned on after the user returnshome, on the basis of the day-based household appliance control fileF400 in the day-based household appliance control database 108. Further,the analyzing unit 102 analyzes a time period (COMPLETE required timeperiod) required for each of the household appliances to change from ONto COMPLETE. Further, the analyzing unit 102 analyzes the order in whichhousehold appliance control is started and control start time periodsafter a mail is transmitted.

More specifically, the analyzing unit 102 analyzes a pattern regarding atime period from the time at which a mail is transmitted until the timeat which each of the household appliances is turned on or off, and apattern regarding a COMPLETE required time period. Then, the analyzingunit 102 specifies the times at which the household appliances arefrequently turned on, arranges the specified times chronologically, andgenerates a typical life pattern with respect to each of the householdappliances, from the analysis result. Thus, a user's life pattern for aday is configured. Then, the analyzing unit 102 stores the generatedlife pattern in the life pattern database 109, as the life pattern fileF500 (see FIG. 5). The details of the life pattern file F500 will bedescribed later in the section 1.2.9.

The timing at which the analyzing unit 102 analyzes a life pattern usingthe day-based household appliance control file F400 may be a timing atwhich day-based household appliance control files F400 for a certainnumber of days are collected. The certain number of days may be, forinstance, one week or two weeks, which is a time period to be handledeasily.

1.2.4 Extracting Unit 103

When the server 100 controls the household appliances, in response toinput of a mail transmission notification from the collecting unit 101,the extracting unit 103 reads out the life pattern file F500 of theassociated user from the life pattern database 109, and outputs thereadout life pattern file F500 to the setting unit 104.

1.2.5 Setting Unit 104

The setting unit 104 turns on a household appliance on the basis of thelife pattern file F500, which is input from the extracting unit 103. Forinstance, it is assumed that a certain time period is recorded in thelife pattern file F500, as a control start time period indicating a timeperiod from a mail transmission time until the time at which a certainhousehold appliance is turned on. Then, the setting unit 104 transmitsan ON control signal to the household appliance when the certain timeperiod has elapsed. Further, after a certain household appliance isturned on, in response to receiving an interrupt notification forinterrupting control of the household appliance from the portableterminal 200, the setting unit 104 transmits an OFF control signal tothe household appliance so as to turn off the household appliance.Further, in response to receiving a resume notification for resumingcontrol of the household appliance after an interrupt notification istransmitted, the setting unit 104 transmits an ON control signal to thehousehold appliance.

1.2.6 Timer 105

The timer 105 counts the current time. The timer 105 is used forallowing the collecting unit 101 to specify the times at which theoperation states of the portable terminal 200 and of the householdappliances 300 to 500 have changed. Further, the timer 105 is used foracquiring the current time when the extracting unit 103 extracts a lifepattern file F500. Further, the timer 105 is used for acquiring thetimes by the setting unit 104. The times at which the operation stateshave changed may be transmitted from the portable terminal 200 and fromthe household appliances 300 to 500.

1.2.7 Owner Household Appliance Database 107

The owner household appliance database 107 stores the owner householdappliance file F300, in which the names of the household appliancesinstalled in the house 20, and a current operation state of each of thehousehold appliances are recorded in association with each other. FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating an example of the owner household appliancefile F300. In the example of the owner household appliance file F300illustrated in FIG. 3, the operation states of two air conditioners, ofa water heater, and of a rice cooker are recorded. Since the first airconditioner is operated, “ON” is recorded as the operation state of thefirst air conditioner. Since the second air conditioner is not operated,“OFF” is recorded as the operation state of the second air conditioner.Since the water heater completed supplying heated water of apredetermined temperature to a predetermined water level in the bathtub,“COMPLETE” is recorded as the operation state of the water heater.Further, since the rice cooker is not operated, “OFF” is recorded as theoperation state of the rice cooker. FIG. 3 illustrates the ownerhousehold appliance file F300 in the house 20 illustrated in FIG. 1.Note that the owner household appliance database 107 accumulates one ormore owner household appliance files F300 of each of the houses 20 towhich the present service is applied.

1.2.8 Day-Based Household Appliance Control Database 108

The day-based household appliance control database 108 stores aday-based household appliance control file F400, in which a transmissiontime of a mail from the portable terminal 200 that satisfies thepredetermined condition, an operation state of each of the householdappliances whose operation state has changed to one of ON, OFF, andCOMPLETE after the mail transmission time, and a time at which thechange has occurred are recorded each day. Specifically, the day-basedhousehold appliance control database 108 manages information indicatinga time at which the operation state of each of the household applianceshas changed, and information indicating operation states after thechange each day.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the day-based householdappliance control file F400. The example of the day-based householdappliance control file F400 in FIG. 4 illustrates a change in theoperation state of each of the household appliances from the time atwhich a mail that satisfies the predetermined condition was transmitteduntil the time at which the rice cooker cooked rice on Feb. 21, 2013(Thursday).

More specifically, in the upper part of the day-based householdappliance control file F400 illustrated in FIG. 4, “Feb. 21, 2013(THURS)” is recorded. This clearly illustrates that the day-basedhousehold appliance control file F400 is a file for Feb. 21, 2013(Thursday). A mail that satisfies the predetermined condition wastransmitted at 18:10 on this day. Therefore, “PORTABLE TERMINAL; MAILTRANSMITTED; 18:10” is recorded. Thereafter, the water heater startedfilling hot water at 18:35. Therefore, “WATER HEATER (FILL HOT WATER);ON; 18:35” is recorded. Thereafter, the rice cooker was turned on at18:45. Therefore, “RICE COOKER; ON: 18:45” is recorded. Thereafter, thewater heater reached the set state at 18:55. Therefore, “WATER HEATER(FILL HOT WATER); COMPLETE; 18:55” is recorded. Thereafter, anillumination device 2 was turned on at 19:00. Therefore, “ILLUMINATIONDEVICE 2; ON; 19:00” is recorded. Thereafter, the rice cooker reachedthe set state. Therefore, “RICE COOKER; COMPLETE; 19:30” is recorded.FIG. 4 illustrates a day-based household appliance control file F400 inone house 20. Note that the day-based household appliance controldatabase 108 accumulates one or more day-based household appliancecontrol files F400 for each of the houses 20 to which the presentservice is applied.

1.2.9 Life Pattern Database 109

The life pattern database 109 stores a life pattern file F500 to begenerated by the analyzing unit 102. The analyzing unit 102 analyzes theday-based household appliance control file F400 in the day-basedhousehold appliance control database 108, extracts the order in whichthe household appliances are turned on, and a difference in times atwhich the respective household appliances are turned on. The analyzingunit 102 generates a life pattern file F500 representing a life patternhaving a high frequency. A life pattern having a high frequencyindicates a typical life pattern represented by a control start timeperiod having a high frequency and a COMPLETE required time periodhaving a high frequency.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the life pattern fileF500. In the example of the life pattern file F500 illustrated in FIG.5, a COMPLETE required time period and a control start time period arerecorded for each of the water heater and the rice cooker.

Regarding the water heater, a COMPLETE required time period having ahigh frequency is twenty minutes, and a control start time period havinga high frequency is twenty minutes. Therefore, “WATER HEATER (FILL HOTWATER); 20 MIN; 20 MIN LATER” is recorded. Further, regarding the ricecooker, a COMPLETE required time period having a high frequency is 45minutes, and a control start time period having a high frequency is 30minutes. Therefore, “RICE COOKER; 45 MIN; 30 MIN LATER” is recorded.

1.3 Portable Terminal 200

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the portableterminal 200 in the household appliance control system 10. The portableterminal 200 is provided with a mail transmission detecting unit 201, amail property checking unit 202, a server notifying unit 203, acommunicating unit 204, a timer 205, a message database 206, apredetermined condition database 207, a life pattern database 210, acondition setting unit 211, and an input unit 212. Alternatively, themail transmission detecting unit 201, the mail property checking unit202, the server notifying unit 203, the timer 205, and the conditionsetting unit 211 may be implemented by providing a controller 3 in theportable terminal 200 with the functions of these elements. In theembodiment, the portable terminal 200 corresponds to an example of aportable information terminal.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of theportable terminal 200. The portable terminal 200 is provided with amemory 213, an OS 214, and a household appliance control application 216and a message transmitting/receiving application 215 as at least twoapplications. The message transmitting/receiving application 215 is anapplication for use in transmitting and receiving a mail. The portableterminal 200 activates the message transmitting/receiving application215, and transmits a mail. The household appliance control application216 transmits an ON timer notification to the server 100 when theaddressee of the mail and the transmission time of the mail satisfy thepredetermined condition. The ON timer notification also has the functionof a mail transmission notification.

1.3.1 Mail Transmission Detecting Unit 201

The mail transmission detecting unit 201 checks whether a mail wastransmitted. When it is confirmed that a mail was transmitted, the mailtransmission detecting unit 201 outputs a mail transmission notificationto the mail property checking unit 202.

1.3.2 Mail Property Checking Unit 202

The mail property checking unit 202 checks the property of a mail inresponse to input of a mail transmission notification from the mailtransmission detecting unit 201. When checking the mail property, themail property checking unit 202 checks whether the latest mail in themessage database 206 satisfies the contents of a predetermined conditionfile F800 (see FIG. 8) in the predetermined condition database 207. Whenthe addressee of the latest mail matches a certain addressee recorded inthe predetermined condition file F800, and when the transmission time ofthe latest mail is within a predetermined time zone recorded in thepredetermined condition file F800, the predetermined condition issatisfied. When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the mailproperty checking unit 202 outputs a mail transmission notification tothe server notifying unit 203. When a plurality of different addresseesare recorded in the predetermined condition file F800, and if theaddressee of the latest mail matches at least one of the recordedaddressees, the mail property checking unit 202 determines that thelatest mail satisfies the predetermined condition regarding theaddressee.

1.3.3 Server Notifying Unit 203

The server notifying unit 203 stores the life pattern file F500 in thelife pattern database 210 when receiving the life pattern file F500 fromthe server 100 via the communicating unit 204. Further, in response toinput of a mail transmission notification from the mail propertychecking unit 202, the server notifying unit 203 generates an ON timernotification on the basis of the life pattern file F500 in the lifepattern database 210, and transmits the generated ON timer notificationto the server 100 via the communicating unit 204.

1.3.4 Communicating Unit 204

The communicating unit 204 transmits, to the server 100, a control startnotification indicating start of controlling the household appliance300, 400, or 500. Further, the communicating unit 204 receives the lifepattern file F500 from the server 100.

1.3.5 Timer 205

The timer 205 counts the current time. The timer 205 is used foracquiring the date and time when a mail was transmitted by the mailtransmission detecting unit 201.

1.3.6 Message Database 206

The message database 206 stores mails that were transmitted from andreceived by the portable terminal 200.

1.3.7 Predetermined Condition Database 207

The predetermined condition database 207 stores the predeterminedcondition file F800, in which information indicating a predeterminedtime zone that is set in advance by the user, and information indicatingan addressee. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of thepredetermined condition file F800. The predetermined condition file F800is an example of a first database in which predetermined addressinformation is registered, and a second database in which apredetermined time zone is registered. In the embodiment, the firstdatabase and the second database are represented by one predeterminedcondition file F800. This is merely an example. Alternatively, thepredetermined condition file F800 may be divided into two sub files, andpredetermined address information may be registered in one of the subfiles, and a predetermined time zone may be registered in the other ofthe sub files. In the example of the predetermined condition file F800illustrated in FIG. 8, “18:00-20:00” is recorded as the predeterminedtime zone, and the mail address of wife B and the mail address ofdaughter C are recorded as the predetermined addressee.

1.3.8 Life Pattern Database 210

The life pattern database 210 stores the life pattern file F500 that isreceived from the server 100 via the communicating unit 204.

1.3.9 Condition Setting Unit 211

The condition setting unit 211 generates a predetermined condition fileF800, in which information input by the user through the input unit 212is recorded as the predetermined condition for use in transmitting amail transmission notification from the portable terminal 200 to theserver 100. The condition setting unit 211 stores the predeterminedcondition file F800 in the predetermined condition database 207. FIG. 9Ais a diagram illustrating an example of a predetermined conditionsetting screen G900 for use when the user inputs the predeterminedcondition. An addressee input section R901 for use in inputting apredetermined addressee, and a time zone input section R902 for use ininputting a predetermined time zone are provided in the predeterminedcondition setting screen G900. The user inputs a predetermined addresseein the addressee input section R901, and inputs a predetermined timezone in the time zone input section R902. When inputting a predeterminedaddressee and a predetermined time zone, the user may select and input apredetermined address from among the addresses registered in a phonebookprovided in the portable terminal 200, or may directly input apredetermined address by operating the input unit 212.

FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating an example of a predeterminedcondition setting screen G900 after input. In the example illustrated inFIG. 9B, the address of wife B is input as the predetermined addressee.Therefore, “WIFE B” is displayed in the addressee input section R901.The time zone from 18:00 to 20:00 is input as the predetermined timezone. Therefore, “18:00-20:00” is displayed in the time zone inputsection R902.

1.3.10 Input Unit 212

The input unit 212 outputs input contents to the condition setting unit211 in response to a user's input of the predetermined condition for usein transmitting a mail transmission notification from the portableterminal 200 to the server 100.

1.4 Household Appliance 300

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the householdappliance 300 in the household appliance control system 10. Theconfigurations of the household appliances 400 and 500 are the same asthe configuration of the household appliance 300, and therefore,description of the configurations of the household appliances 400 and500 is omitted herein. The household appliance 300 is provided with ahousehold appliance control unit 301, a server notifying unit 302, acommunicating unit 303, a timer 304, and a state database 305.Alternatively, the household appliance control unit 301, the servernotifying unit 302, and the timer 304 may be implemented by providing acontroller 4 in the household appliance 300 with the functions of theseelements.

1.4.1 Household Appliance Control Unit 301

The household appliance control unit 301 outputs, to the servernotifying unit 302, an operation state ON, OFF, or COMPLETE, and thetime at which the household appliance 300 is brought to the operationstate, together with the name of the household appliance, each time thehousehold appliance 300 is brought to the operation state ON, OFF, orCOMPLETE. Specifically, the household appliance control unit 301outputs, to the server notifying unit 302, information indicating a timeat which the operation state of the household appliance 300 has changed,and information indicating an operation state after the change, togetherwith the name of the household appliance 300. Concurrently, thehousehold appliance control unit 301 records the operation state of thehousehold appliance 300 in a state file F110 (see FIG. 11 and FIG. 12)stored in the state database 305.

Further, when the server 110 controls the household appliance, thehousehold appliance control unit 301 receives an ON control signal fromthe server 100 to start operating the household appliance 300, andchanges the state of the state file F110 in the state database 305 toON. In response to receiving an OFF control signal, the householdappliance control unit 301 turns off the household appliance 300, andchanges the state of the state file F110 in the state database 305 toOFF. The household appliance control unit 301 outputs a state after thechange to the server notifying unit 302, each time the state is changed.

1.4.2 Server Notifying Unit 302

The server notifying unit 302 transmits an operation state of thehousehold appliance 300 after the change, which is input from thehousehold appliance control unit 301, to the server 100 via thecommunicating unit 303.

1.4.3 Communicating Unit 303

The communicating unit 303 transmits, to the server 100, informationindicating a time at which the operation state of the householdappliance 300 has changed, and information indicating an operation stateafter the change. Further, the communicating unit 303 receives an ONcontrol notification and an OFF control notification from the server100.

1.4.4 Timer 304

The timer 304 counts the current time. The timer 304 is used foracquiring information indicating a time at which the operation state ofthe household appliance 300 has changed by the household appliancecontrol unit 301.

1.4.5 State Database 305

The state database 305 stores the state file F110, in which the name, anoperation state (ON, OFF, or COMPLETE), a current state, and a set stateof the household appliance 300 are recorded. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 arerespectively diagrams illustrating an example of the state file F110 inthe state database 305.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of the state file F110 when the householdappliance 300 is a water heater. In the example of FIG. 11, theoperation state is ON, the current state is a state such that 100 Lwater at a water temperature of 30° C. is in the bathtub, and the setstate is a state such that 160 L water at a water temperature of 39° C.is in the bathtub. In this case, when the current state has reached theset state, the operation state of the household appliance 300 is changedto the operation state COMPLETE.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of the state file F110 when the householdappliance 400 is an air conditioner. In the example of FIG. 12, theoperation state is ON, and the current state illustrates that the roomtemperature is 8° C. FIG. 12 illustrates that a flag indicating settingof the current operation mode such as warming or cooling is set, and thesetting of the current operation mode is warming. FIG. 12 illustratesthat the set state of warming is such that the room temperature is 20°C., the air volume is strong, and the wind direction is automatic. Inthis state, when the room temperature indicated by the current state hasreached the room temperature indicated by the set state, the operationstate of the household appliance 400 is changed to the operation stateCOMPLETE.

1.5 Operations of Household Appliance Control System 10

The operations of the household appliance control system 10 includethree operations, specifically, condition setting, generation of a lifepattern file F500, and household appliance control on the basis of agenerated life pattern file F500. Condition setting designates anoperation of storing the input contents in the predetermined conditiondatabase 207 when the user sets the predetermined condition for use intransmitting a mail transmission notification from the portable terminal200 to the server 100. Generation of a life pattern file F500 designatesanalyzing ON and OFF timings of the household appliance 300 and the likeby the user on daily basis, generating a life pattern file F500 of theuser, and storing the life pattern file F500 in the life patterndatabase 109 of the server 100. Household appliance control on the basisof a generated life pattern file F500 designates controlling thehousehold appliance 300 and the like by the server 100 on the basis of agenerated life pattern file F500. In the following, the three operationsare described referring to the drawings.

1.5.1 Condition Setting

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a condition setting operation to beperformed in the household appliance control system 10.

The portable terminal 200 activates the message transmitting/receivingapplication 215 (Step S801). Subsequently, the condition setting unit211 of the portable terminal 200 sets a predetermined addressee inresponse to a user's input through the input unit 211 (Step S802).Subsequently, the condition setting unit 211 of the portable terminal200 sets a predetermined time zone in response to a user's input throughthe input unit 212 (Step S803). Subsequently, the condition setting unit211 of the portable terminal 200 stores the predetermined condition fileF800 recorded with the set contents in the predetermined conditiondatabase 207 (Step S804).

1.5.2 Generation of Life Pattern File

An operation of generating a life pattern file F500 when a mail istransmitted in the household appliance control system 10 is describedusing the sequence diagram illustrated in FIG. 14. Further, an operationto be performed after a mail is transmitted is described using thesequence diagrams illustrated in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19. FIG. 14illustrates that an operation state of the household appliance isrecorded after the portable terminal 200 transmits a mail.Alternatively, all the operation states of the household appliance for aday may be recorded.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of generating alife pattern file F500 when a mail is transmitted. The analyzing unit102 of the server 100 collects the times at which mails are transmittedfrom the portable terminal 200, and analyzes the life pattern.

The portable terminal 200 activates the message transmitting/receivingapplication 215 (Step S1001). The mail transmission detecting unit 201of the portable terminal 200 checks whether a mail was transmitted (StepS1002). When it is impossible to confirm that a mail was transmitted (NOin Step S1002), the portable terminal 200 checks whether a mail wastransmitted in Step S1002. When it is confirmed that a mail wastransmitted (YES in Step S1002), the mail property checking unit 202checks whether the addressee of the transmitted mail matches apredetermined addressee recorded in the predetermined condition fileF800 (Step S1003).

When the addressee of the transmitted mail does not match thepredetermined addressee (NO in Step S1003), the portable terminal 200checks whether a mail was transmitted in Step S1002. When the addresseematches the predetermined addressee (YES in Step S1003), the mailproperty checking unit 202 acquires the current time to be measured bythe timer 205 as the transmission time of the mail (Step S1004).Subsequently, the mail property checking unit 202 checks whether themail transmission time is within the predetermined time zone recorded inthe predetermined condition file F800 (Step S1005). Specifically, themail property checking unit 202 compares the current time acquired inStep S1004 with the predetermined time zone recorded in thepredetermined condition file F800.

When the current time acquired in Step S1004 is not within thepredetermined time zone (NO in Step S1005), the portable terminal 200checks whether a mail was transmitted in Step S1002. When the currenttime is within the predetermined time zone (YES in Step S1005), theserver notifying unit 203 of the portable terminal 200 transmits a mailtransmission notification to the server 100 (Step S1006).

The collecting unit 101 of the server 100 checks whether there is a mailtransmission notification from the portable terminal 200 (Step S1007).FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a data configuration of a mailtransmission notification to be transmitted from the portable terminal200 to the server 100.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration ofnotification data 1500 to be transmitted and received between thedevices in the household appliance control system. The upper row in FIG.15 illustrates a general data configuration of the notification data1500, and the lower row in FIG. 15 illustrates a data configuration ofthe notification data 1500 to be used as a mail transmissionnotification.

As illustrated in the upper row in FIG. 15, the notification data 1500to be used in the household appliance control system is provided with“DEVICE NAME”, “TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”, and “TIME”. The name of thedevice as a transmission source of the notification data 1500 isdescribed in “DEVICE NAME”. In this example, household appliances andthe portable terminal 200 are included in the device. Therefore, theidentifier of the household appliance and the identifier of the portableterminal are described as “DEVICE NAME”. The type of the notificationdata 1500 is described in “TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”. The transmission timeof the notification data 1500 is described in “TIME”. In this example, amail transmission notification transmitted at 18:10 is illustrated inthe lower row in FIG. 15. Therefore, “PORTABLE TERMINAL” is described in“HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE NAME”, “MAIL TRANSMITTED” is described in “TYPE OFNOTIFICATION”, and “18:10” is described in “TIME”.

When a mail transmission notification was not received from the portableterminal 200 (NO in Step S1007), the collecting unit 101 of the server100 returns the process to Step S1007, and checks whether a mailtransmission notification was received. When a mail transmissionnotification is received from the portable terminal 200 (YES in StepS1007), the portable terminal 200 and the server 100 perform a filewriting process (Step S1008). The file writing process is a process ofwriting a change in the state of a household appliance and a time atwhich the change has occurred in the day-based household appliancecontrol file F400 within the day-based household appliance controldatabase 108.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the file writing process.

The collecting unit 101 of the server 100 checks whether the finishingcondition of a day is satisfied (Step S1101). When the finishingcondition of a day is satisfied (YES in Step S1101), the collecting unit101 finishes recording for the day in the day-based household appliancecontrol file F400 (Step S1102). Subsequently, the collecting unit 101generates a day-based household appliance control file F400 for this dayin the day-based household appliance control database 108, and theprocess proceeds to Step S1105.

When the finishing condition of a day is not satisfied (NO in StepS1101), the collecting unit 101 checks whether the day-based householdappliance control file 400 for this day is within the day-basedhousehold appliance control database 108 (Step S1103). When theday-based household appliance control file F400 for this day is notwithin the day-based household appliance control database 108 (NO inStep S1103), the collecting unit 101 generates a day-based householdappliance control file F400 for this day in the day-based householdappliance control database 108 (Step S1104). In this way, a day-basedhousehold appliance control file F400 for use in recording the operationstates of a device for a day is generated.

When a day-based household appliance control file for this day is withinthe day-based household appliance control database 108 (YES in StepS1103), or after a day-based household appliance control file for thisday is generated in the day-based household appliance control database108 (Step S1104), the collecting unit 101 determines the device whichtransmitted the notification data 1500 (Step S1105).

For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the collecting unit 101determines the device that transmitted the notification data 1500 andthe operation state of the device from the information described in“DEVICE NAME” and in “TYPE OF NOTIFICATION” to be included in thenotification data 1500. The identifier such as the ID attached to eachof the devices may be described in “DEVICE NAME” to be included in thenotification data 1500. The collecting unit 101 records “DEVICE NAME”,“OPERATION STATE (MAIL TRANSMITTED, ON, OFF or COMPLETE)”, and “TIME” ofthe device which transmitted the notification data 1500 in the day-basedhousehold appliance control file F400 for this day in the day-basedhousehold appliance control database 108 (Step S1106). In this way, theday-based household appliance control file F400 as illustrated in FIG. 4is generated.

FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating an example of the life of the user A.As illustrated in FIG. 17A, the time when the user A returns home isaround 19:00 when the user returns home early, and is around 21:00 whenthe user returns home late. The user A sends a mail to wife B or todaughter C every day when the user transfers at the transfer stationi.e. at station S. It takes thirty minutes from Station S to station Tnearest to his house by train, and then, it takes fifteen minutes to hishouse on foot. Wife B calculates the time when the user A returns home,and controls the household appliances according to the behavior of theuser A after the user returns home.

FIG. 17B illustrates an example when the user returns home early. Theuser A sends a mail to wife B from Station S at 18:10. Wife B turns onthe water heater at 18:35 to fill the bathtub with hot water. Then, wifeB starts cooking rice using the rice cooker. The user A returns home at18:55, and takes a bath at 19:00. Rice is cooked at the same time whenthe user finishes taking a bath at 19:30. They take supper at 19:35.

FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are sequence diagrams illustrating an operation ofgenerating a life pattern file F500 after a mail is transmitted. Theanalyzing unit 102 of the server 100 collects the states ON, OFF, andCOMPLETE, and the times at which the operation state of the householdappliance has changed to the respective states from the householdappliance 300 and the like, and analyzes the life pattern. In thisexample, the analyzing unit 102 collects data from the householdappliance 300.

The household appliance control unit 301 of the household appliance 300checks whether the operation state has changed (Step S1201). Theoperation state is one of ON, OFF, and COMPLETE. When the operationstate has not changed (NO in Step S1201), the household appliancecontrol unit 301 checks whether the operation has changed in Step S1201.When the operation state has changed (YES in Step S1201), the householdappliance control unit 301 notifies the server 100 of the notificationdata 1500 including “DEVICE NAME”, “OPERATION STATE” after the change,and the time at which the change has occurred (Step S1202).Subsequently, the household appliance control unit 301 changes the stateof the state file F110 in the state database 305 to the state after thechange (Step S1203).

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration ofthe notification data 1500 to be transmitted from the householdappliance 300 to the server 100. The notification data 1500 to betransmitted from the household appliance 300 to the server 100 isprovided with “DEVICE NAME”, “TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”, and “TIME” as wellas the notification data 1500 (see FIG. 15) to be transmitted from theportable terminal 200 to the server 100. The example of the upper row inFIG. 20 illustrates the notification data 1500 when the water heater isturned on at 18:35. Therefore, “WATER HEATER” is described in “HOUSEHOLDAPPLIANCE DEVICE, “ON” is described in “TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”, and“18:35” is described in “TIME”. Further, the example of the lower row inFIG. 20 illustrates the notification data 1500 when the rice cooker isturned on at 18:45. Therefore, “RICE COOKER” is described in “DEVICENAME”, “ON” is described in “TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”, and “18:45” isdescribed in “TIME”.

Referring back to FIG. 18, the collecting unit 101 of the server 100checks whether the communicating unit 106 received the notification data1500 from the household appliance 300 (Step S1204). When thecommunicating unit 106 did not receive the notification data 1500 fromthe household appliance 300 (NO in Step S1204), the collecting unit 101returns the process to Step S1204, and checks whether the notificationdata 1500 was transmitted from the household appliance 300. When thenotification data 1500 was transmitted from the household appliance 300(YES in Step S1204), the collecting unit 101 changes the operation stateof the household appliance 300 which transmitted the notification data1500 in the owner household appliance file F300 within the ownerhousehold appliance database 107 (Step S1205).

Subsequently, the collecting unit 101 performs a file writing process(see FIG. 16) (Step S1008). Subsequently, the collecting unit 101 checkswhether day-based household appliance control files F400 for a certainnumber of days were collected (Step S1207). When day-based householdappliance control files F400 for a certain number of days were notcollected (NO in Step S1207), the process returns to Step S1204. Whenday-based household appliance control files F400 for a certain number ofdays were collected (YES in Step S1207), the analyzing unit 102 of theserver 100 performs a pattern analyzing process (Step S1208).Subsequently, the analyzing unit 102 transmits, to the portable terminal200, a life pattern file F500 generated by the pattern analyzing process(Step S1209).

Subsequently, the server notifying unit 203 of the portable terminal 200stores the life pattern file F500 transmitted from the server 100 in thelife pattern database 210 (Step S1210).

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the pattern analyzing processillustrated in FIG. 19.

The analyzing unit 102 of the server 100 analyzes the life pattern onthe basis of the day-based household appliance control file F400 in theday-based household appliance control database 108 (Step S1301).Subsequently, the analyzing unit 102 generates a life pattern file F500from the analysis result, and stores the generated life pattern fileF500 in the life pattern database 109 (Step S1302).

In the following, an example of generating a life pattern file F500 isdescribed using the day-based household appliance control file F400illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates the day-based householdappliance control file F400 on Feb. 21, 2013. When day-based householdappliance control file F400 for a certain number of days were collectedas described above, the pattern analyzing process is executed. First ofall, when day-based household appliance control files F400 for a certainnumber of days were collected, the analyzing unit 102 obtains a controlstart time period on the basis of a mail transmission time as areference, and obtains a COMPLETE required time period from each of thecollected day-based household appliance control files F400. In theexample of FIG. 4, regarding the water heater, the mail transmissiontime is 18:10, and the time at which the water heater is turned on is18:35. Therefore, the control start time period is calculated to betwenty-five minutes. Further, the water heater is brought to anoperation state ON at 18:35, and is brought to an operation stateCOMPLETE at 18:55. Therefore, the COMPLETE required time period iscalculated to be twenty minutes. Further, regarding the rice cooker, themail transmission time is 18:10, and the rice cooker is brought to anoperation state ON at 18:45. Therefore, the control start time period iscalculated to be thirty-five minutes. Further, the rice cooker isbrought to an operation state ON at 18:45, and is brought to anoperation state COMPLETE at 19:30. Therefore, the COMPLETE required timeperiod is calculated to be forty-five minutes. Further, regarding theillumination device 2, the mail transmission time is 18:10, and theillumination device 2 is brought to an operation state ON at 19:00.Therefore, the control start time period is calculated to be fiftyminutes.

Next, the analyzing unit 102 obtains frequencies of a COMPLETE requiredtime period and of a control start time period for each of the householdappliances. Then, the analyzing unit 102 writes the COMPLETE requiredtime period and the control start time period whose frequencies arelargest in the life pattern file F500 illustrated in FIG. 5. In theexample of FIG. 5, a COMPLETE required time period and a control starttime period whose frequencies are largest are written for each of thewater heater and the rice cooker.

1.5.3 Household Appliance Control Based on Generated Life Pattern File

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram illustrating a household appliance controloperation to be performed on the basis of a generated life pattern fileF500 in the household appliance control system 10.

The portable terminal 200 activates the message transmitting/receivingapplication 215 (Step S1401). Subsequently, the mail transmissiondetecting unit 201 of the portable terminal 200 checks whether a mailwas transmitted (Step S1402). When it is impossible to confirm that amail was transmitted (NO in Step S1402), the mail transmission detectingunit 201 checks whether a mail was transmitted in Step S1402. When it isconfirmed that a mail was transmitted (YES in Step S1402), the mailproperty checking unit 202 of the portable terminal 200 checks whetherthe addressee of the transmitted mail matches the predeterminedaddressee recorded in the predetermined condition file F800 (StepS1403). When the addressee of the transmitted mail does not match thepredetermined addressee (NO in Step S1403), the portable terminal 200checks whether a mail was transmitted in Step S1402.

When the addressee matches the predetermined addressee (YES in StepS1403), the mail property checking unit 202 acquires the current time tobe measured by the timer 205 as the transmission time of the mail (StepS1404). Subsequently, the mail property checking unit 202 checks whetherthe mail transmission time is within the predetermined time zonerecorded in the predetermined condition file F800 (Step S1405). When themail transmission time is not within the predetermined time zone (NO inStep S1405), the portable terminal 200 checks whether a mail wastransmitted in Step S1402. When the mail transmission time is within thepredetermined time zone (YES in Step S1405), the portable terminal 200,the server 100, and the household appliance 300 perform a householdappliance control process (Step S1500).

The household appliance control process is described using the sequencediagrams illustrated in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24. FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 aresequence diagrams illustrating the household appliance control process.

The condition setting unit 211 of the portable terminal 200 extracts ahousehold appliance to be controlled, referring to the life pattern fileF500 (Step S1501). Subsequently, the condition setting unit 211 extractsthe control start time period of the extracted household appliance,referring to the life pattern file F500 (Step S1502). Subsequently, theportable terminal 200 transmits an ON timer notification to the server100 (Step S1503).

FIG. 25A is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration ofan ON timer notification 2500 to be transmitted from the portableterminal 200 to the server 100. The ON timer notification 2500 is anexample of a control command. The upper row in FIG. 25A illustrates ageneral data configuration of the ON timer notification 2500, and thelower row in FIG. 25A illustrates a data configuration of the ON timernotification 2500 when the water heater is turned on 25 minutes later.

The ON timer notification 2500 is provided with “DEVICE NAME”, “TYPE OFNOTIFICATION”, “CONTROL START TIME PERIOD”, “SET TEMPERATURE”, and“HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE TO BE TURNED ON”. The name of the householdappliance as a transmission source is described in “DEVICE NAME”.Information indicating the type of the notification is described in“TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”. In this example, the type of the notification isan ON timer notification. Therefore, “ON TIMER NOTIFICATION” isdescribed in “TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”. “CONTROL START TIME PERIOD”describes a time period, in other words, how many minutes, it takes tostart household appliance control. The temperature of water to besupplied to the bathtub is described in “SET TEMPERATURE”. “HOUSEHOLDAPPLIANCE TO BE TURNED ON” describes a household appliance to becontrolled, namely, a household appliance that receives an ON timernotification 2500. The lower row in FIG. 15 illustrates an ON timernotification 2500 to be transmitted from the portable terminal 200,which notifies that the water heater is turned on 25 minutes later, andwater of 39° C. is supplied. Therefore, “PORTABLE TERMINAL” is describedin “HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE NAME”, “ON TIMER NOTIFICATION” is described in“TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”, “25” is described in “CONTROL START TIMEPERIOD”, “39° C.” is described in “SET TEMPERATURE”, and “WATER HEATER”is described in “HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE TO BE TURNED ON”.

Referring back to FIG. 23, the setting unit 104 of the server 100 checkswhether an ON timer notification was transmitted from the portableterminal 200 (Step S1504). When it is impossible to confirm that an ONtimer notification was transmitted (NO in Step S1504), the server 100checks whether an ON timer notification was transmitted in Step S1504.When it is confirmed that an ON timer notification was transmitted (YESin Step S1504), the setting unit 104 acquires the current time to bemeasured by the timer 105 (Step S1505). Subsequently, the server 100transmits an ON control signal to the household appliance indicated by“HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE TO BE TURNED ON” in the ON timer notification afterelapse of the control start time period indicated by “CONTROL START TIMEPERIOD” in the ON timer notification from the current time acquired inStep S1505 (Step S1506). In the example of the ON timer notification2500 in the lower row in FIG. 25A, the setting unit 104 transmits an ONcontrol signal to the water heater 25 minutes later from the currenttime acquired in Step S1505. Alternatively, a communication address ofeach of the household appliances may be recorded in advance in the ownerhousehold appliance file F300, and the setting unit 104 may specify thecommunication address of the water heater from the owner householdappliance file F300. Subsequently, the setting unit 104 changes thestate of the household appliance 300 in the owner household appliancefile F300 within the owner household appliance database 107 to ON (StepS1507). In the aforementioned example of the water heater, the operationstate of the water heater in the owner household appliance F300illustrated in FIG. 3 is changed from OFF to ON.

The household appliance control unit 301 of the household appliance 300receives an ON control signal through the communication unit 303, andturns on the household appliance 300 (Step S1508). The householdappliance 300 transmits an ON control complete notification to theserver 100 (Step S1509). Subsequently, the household appliance 300changes the state of the state file F110 (see FIG. 11 and FIG. 12) inthe state database 305 to ON (Step S1510). In the example of the statefile F110 illustrated in FIG. 11, “OPERATION STATE” is changed to ON,and the current state (current water level, current temperature) ischanged to (0 L, 25° C.), for instance.

Subsequently, the setting unit 104 of the server 100 transmits the ONcontrol complete notification received from the household appliance 300to the portable terminal 200 (Step S1511).

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration ofnotification data 2600 to be transmitted from the household appliance300 to the server 100. The upper row in FIG. 26 illustrates a generaldata configuration of the notification data 2600, and the lower row inFIG. 26 illustrates a data configuration of the notification data 2600when the water heater is turned on. The notification data 2600 isprovided with “HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE NAME” and “TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”. Thename of a household appliance to be controlled is described in“HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE NAME”, and data representing the type of thenotification data 2600 is described in “TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”. The lowerrow in FIG. 26 illustrates the notification data 2600 when the waterheater is turned on. Therefore, “WATER HEATER” is described in“HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE NAME”, and “ON CONTROL COMPLETE” is described in“TYPE OF NOTIFICATION”.

The communicating unit 204 of the portable terminal 200 receives an ONcontrol complete notification from the server 100, and displays a screennotifying the ON control complete notification on the display (StepS1512).

In response to receiving an ON control complete notification, theportable terminal 200 may display, on the display, a confirmationscreen, in which information indicating that transmission of a mail wascompleted, and information indicating start of household appliancecontrol on the basis of a generated life pattern file F500, asconfirmation for the user. FIG. 27B is a diagram illustrating an exampleof a confirmation screen G272. For instance, it is assumed that a lifepattern file F500 is generated so as to start filling hot water on thebasis of a transmission time of a mail, and household appliance controlis performed on the basis of the life pattern file F500. In this case,when the control start time period has elapsed after the portableterminal 200 transmitted a mail that satisfies the predeterminedcondition, the confirmation screen G272 illustrated in FIG. 27B isdisplayed on the display. The upper part of the confirmation screen G272describes “MAIL TRANSMISSION COMPLETED”. This clearly notifies the userthat transmission of a mail has completed. A display section R271describing “STARTED FILLING HOT WATER. YOU CAN TAKE A BATH 20 MINUTESLATER (AROUND 18:55). DO YOU WANT TO STOP?” is displayed below themessage “MAIL TRANSMISSION COMPLETED”. The user is asked whetherhousehold appliance control is to be started by the description in thedisplay section R271.

A button B273 “YES” and a button B274 “NO” are disposed in the displaysection R271. The user is allowed to press the button B273 “YES” whenthe user agrees to perform household appliance control described in thedisplay section R271, and is allowed to press the button B274 “NO” whenthe user does not agree to perform household appliance control.According to this configuration, it is possible to perform householdappliance control after the user confirms whether household appliancecontrol is to be performed. This makes it possible to prevent householdappliance control against the user's will. Alternatively, the user maybe allowed to select in advance whether the confirmation screen G272 isto be displayed on the portable terminal 200. When the user selects inadvance not to display the confirmation screen G272, household appliancecontrol according to the life pattern file F500 is automatically startedwithout displaying the confirmation screen G272 when household appliancecontrol is started.

1.6 Advantageous Effects of First Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the user's life pattern is analyzed; the timeat which a household appliance is turned on before or after the userreturns home, and a COMPLETE required time period of the householdappliance are calculated; and household appliance control according tothe user's life pattern is started. When the aforementioned operationsare performed, a user's habitual behavior of sending a mail to thefamily when the user returns home is used as a trigger for startinghousehold appliance control. This makes it possible to efficiently turnon an intended household appliance according to the user's behaviorafter the user returns home by a user's habitual behavior to beperformed when the user returns home, without a cumbersome operation.

As described above, in the first embodiment, it is possible to starthousehold appliance control according to the user's life pattern, usinga user's habitual behavior to be performed when the user returns home.This allows for the user to act efficiently without the need ofhousehold appliance control by the user.

Further, in the first embodiment, the portable terminal 200 includes thelife pattern file F500. Therefore, it is possible for the portableterminal 200 to remote control the household appliances only bytransmitting an ON timer notification to the server 100 on the basis ofthe contents of the life pattern file F500. Thus, in the firstembodiment, with use of the portable terminal 200, it is possible toremote control the household appliances according to the user's lifepattern, using a user's habitual behavior to be performed when the userreturns home.

Second Embodiment

In this section, a household appliance control system 10 a in the secondembodiment is described referring to the drawings. In the firstembodiment, the addressee of a mail and a time zone when the mail istransmitted are used as the predetermined condition that satisfies amail, based on which household appliance control is started. In thesecond embodiment, a keyword in the text of a mail and a time zone whenthe mail is transmitted are used as the predetermined condition thatsatisfies a mail, based on which household appliance control is started.The second embodiment is described by the mail screen G271 illustratedin FIG. 27A as an example. It is assumed that a predetermined keyword asthe predetermined condition is “RETURN”, and a predetermined time zoneas the predetermined condition is “18:00-20:00”. The mail illustrated onthe mail screen G271 includes a keyword “RETURN” in the text, and thetransmission time of the mail is “18:10”. Therefore, the mail satisfiesthe predetermined condition, and household appliance control is startedon the basis of transmission of the mail.

2.1 Overall Configuration of Household Appliance Control System 10 a

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of ahousehold appliance control system 10 a in the second embodiment. Thehousehold appliance control system 10 a is provided with a server 100and household appliances 300 to 500, as well as the first embodiment,and is further provided with a portable terminal 200 a, which isdifferent from the portable terminal 200 in the first embodiment. Inthis embodiment, the same elements as those in the first embodiment areindicated with the same reference signs, and description thereof isomitted.

2.2 Configuration of Portable Terminal 200 a

FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the portableterminal 200 a in the household appliance control system 10 a. Thesecond embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that theportable terminal 200 a is provided with a mail property checking unit202 a, a condition setting unit 211 a, and a predetermined conditiondatabase 207 a. Alternatively, a mail transmission detecting unit 201, aserver communicating unit 203, a timer 205, the mail property checkingunit 202 a, and the condition setting unit 211 a may be implemented byproviding a controller 3 a in the portable terminal 200 a with thefunctions of these elements. In the embodiment, the portable terminal200 a corresponds to an example of the portable information terminal.

2.2.1 Mail Property Checking Unit 202 a

The mail property checking unit 202 a checks the property of a mail inresponse to input of a mail transmission notification from the mailtransmission detecting unit 201. When checking the mail property, themail property checking unit 202 a checks whether the latest mail in amessage database 206 satisfies the contents of a predetermined conditionfile F801 (see FIG. 30) in the predetermined condition database 207 a.When a predetermined keyword is included in the text of the mail, andwhen the transmission time of the mail is within a predetermined timezone, the predetermined condition is satisfied. When the predeterminedcondition is satisfied, the mail property checking unit 202 a outputs amail transmission notification to the server notifying unit 203.

2.2.2 Predetermined Condition Database 207 a

The predetermined condition database 207 a stores a predeterminedcondition file F801, in which a predetermined keyword that is set inadvance by the user, and a predetermined time zone are stored. FIG. 30is a diagram illustrating an example of the predetermined condition fileF801. In FIG. 30, the predetermined keyword is “RETURN”, and thepredetermined time zone is “18:00-20:00”.

2.2.3 Condition Setting Unit 211 a

The condition setting unit 211 a generates a predetermined conditionfile F801, in which information input by the user through an input unit212 is recorded, as the predetermined condition for use in transmittinga mail transmission notification from the portable terminal 200 a to aserver 100, and stores the generated predetermined condition file F801in the predetermined condition database 207 a. FIG. 31A is a diagramillustrating an example of a predetermined condition setting screen G910for use in inputting the predetermined condition by the user. Thepredetermined condition setting screen G910 is provided with a keywordinput section R911 for use in inputting a predetermined keyword, and atime zone input section R912 for use in inputting a predetermined timezone. The user is allowed to input a predetermined keyword in thekeyword input section R911, and is allowed to input a predetermined timezone in the time zone input section R912. The user directly inputs apredetermined keyword through the input unit 212.

FIG. 31B is a diagram illustrating an example of a predeterminedcondition setting screen G910 after input. In the example illustrated inFIG. 31B, “RETURN” is input as a predetermined keyword. Therefore,“RETURN” is displayed in the keyword input section R911. A time zone18:00-20:00 is input as a predetermined time zone. Therefore,“18:00-20:00” is displayed in the time zone input section R912.

2.3 Operations of Household Appliance Control System 10 a

As well as the first embodiment, the operations of the householdappliance control system 10 a include three operations, specifically,condition setting, generation of a life pattern file, and householdappliance control on the basis of a generated life pattern file.Generation of a life pattern file in the second embodiment is the sameas in the first embodiment. Therefore, description about generation of alife pattern file is omitted herein. In the following, conditionsetting, and household appliance control on the basis of a generatedlife pattern file are described referring to the drawings.

2.3.1 Condition Setting

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a condition setting operation to beperformed in the household appliance control system 10 a.

The portable terminal 200 a activates a message transmitting/receivingapplication 215 (Step S2001). Subsequently, the condition setting unit211 a of the portable terminal 200 a sets a predetermined keyword inresponse to a user's input through the input unit 212 (Step S2002).Subsequently, the condition setting unit 211 a of the portable terminal200 a sets a predetermined time zone in response to a user's inputthrough the input unit 212 (Step S2003). Lastly, the condition settingunit 211 a of the portable terminal 200 a stores a predeterminedcondition file F801 recorded with the set contents in the predeterminedcondition database 207 a (Step S2004).

2.3.2 Household Appliance Control on the Basis of Generated Life PatternFile

FIG. 33 is a sequence diagram illustrating a household appliance controloperation on the basis of a generated life pattern file F500 in thehousehold appliance control system 10 a.

The portable terminal 200 a activates the message transmitting/receivingapplication 215 (Step S2101). Subsequently, the mail transmissiondetecting unit 201 of the portable terminal 200 a checks whether a mailwas transmitted (Step S2102). When it is impossible to confirm that amail was transmitted (NO in Step S2102), the mail transmission detectingunit 201 checks whether a mail was transmitted in Step S2102. When it isconfirmed that a mail was transmitted (YES in Step S2102), the mailproperty checking unit 202 a of the portable terminal 200 a checkswhether the text of the mail includes a predetermined keyword (StepS2103).

When the text of the mail does not include a predetermined keyword (NOin Step S2103), the portable terminal 200 a checks whether a mail wastransmitted in Step S2102. When the text of the mail includes apredetermined keyword (YES in Step S2103), the mail property checkingunit 202 a acquires the current time to be measured by the timer 205 asthe transmission time of the mail (Step S2104). Subsequently, the mailproperty checking unit 202 a checks whether the mail transmission timeis within the predetermined time zone recorded in the predeterminedcondition file F801 (Step S2105). When the transmission time of the mailis not within the predetermined time zone (NO in Step S2105), theportable terminal 200 a checks whether a mail was transmitted in StepS2102. When the transmission time of the mail is within thepredetermined time zone (YES in Step S2105), the portable terminal 200a, the server 100, and the household appliance 300 perform a householdappliance control process (Step S1500). The household appliance controlprocess is the same as in the first embodiment.

2.4 Advantageous Effects of Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the addressee of a mail and a time zone whenthe mail is transmitted are used as the predetermined condition, basedon which household appliance control is started. In the secondembodiment, a keyword in the text of a mail and a time zone when themail is transmitted are used as the predetermined condition thatsatisfies a mail, based on which household appliance control is started.According to this configuration, when the user always sends a mailincluding a fixed message when the user returns home, it is possible tostart household appliance control on the basis of transmission of amail, as far as the text of the mail includes a predetermined keyword.

Further, as well as the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, theportable terminal 200 a includes the life pattern file F500. Therefore,it is possible for the portable terminal 200 a to remote control thehousehold appliances only by transmitting an ON timer notification tothe server 100 on the basis of the contents of the life pattern fileF500.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when the user habituallysends a mail including a fixed message to the family when the userreturns home, it is possible to start household appliance control on thebasis of transmission of the mail as far as the text of the mailincludes a predetermined keyword. Further, as well as the firstembodiment, with use of the portable terminal 200 a, it is possible toremote control the household appliances according to the user's lifepattern, using a user's habitual behavior when the user returns home.

3. Third Embodiment

In this section, a household appliance control system 10 b in the thirdembodiment is described referring to the drawings. In the firstembodiment, a predetermined addressee and a predetermined time zone areused as the predetermined condition that satisfies a mail, based onwhich household appliance control is started. Further, in the secondembodiment, a predetermined keyword and a predetermined time zone areused as the predetermined condition that satisfies a mail, based onwhich household appliance control is started. In the third embodiment, aportable terminal 200 b is not provided with the predetermined conditiondatabase 207, 207 a. The portable terminal 200 b searches a keyword thatindicates a certain place from the text of a mail, calculates a requiredhome returning time period from the position of the place, and startshousehold appliance control.

3.1 Overall Configuration of Household Appliance Control System 10 b

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of thehousehold appliance control system 10 b in the third embodiment. As wellas the first embodiment, the household appliance control system 10 b isprovided with a household appliance 300, a household appliance 400, anda household appliance 500; and is further provided with a server 100 aand the portable terminal 200 b which are different from those in thefirst and second embodiments. The same constituent elements in theembodiment as those in the first and second embodiments are indicatedwith the same reference signs, and description thereof is omittedherein.

3.2 Configuration of Server 100 a

FIG. 35 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server100 a in the household appliance control system 10 b. The server 100 ais different from the server 100 in the first embodiment in that theserver 100 a is provided with an analyzing unit 102 a, a setting unit104 a, and a life pattern database 109 a. Alternatively, a collectingunit 101, an extracting unit 103, a timer 105, the analyzing unit 102 a,and the setting unit 104 a may be implemented by providing a controller1 a in the server 100 a with the functions of these elements. Furtheralternatively, a memory 2 a in the server 100 a may be provided with anowner household appliance database 107, a day-based household appliancecontrol database 108, and the life pattern database 109 a.

3.2.1 Analyzing Unit 102 a

As well as the first embodiment, the analyzing unit 102 a analyzes theuser's life pattern on the basis of a day-based household appliancecontrol file F400 in the day-based household appliance control database108, and generates a life pattern file. In the embodiment, the analyzingunit 102 a generates a life pattern file F501 illustrated in FIG. 36.The analyzing unit 102 a stores the generated life pattern file F501 inthe life pattern database 109 a. The life pattern file F501 will bedescribed in details in the section 3.2.3.

3.2.2 Setting Unit 104 a

As well as the first embodiment, the setting unit 104 a turns on ahousehold appliance on the basis of a life pattern file F501 input fromthe extracting unit 103, and on the basis of an ON timer notification tobe transmitted from the portable terminal 200 b. Further, as well as thefirst embodiment, the setting unit 104 a receives an interruptnotification and a resume notification from the portable terminal 200,and turns off and on the household appliance.

3.2.3 Life Pattern Database 109 a

The life pattern database 109 a stores a life pattern file F501 to begenerated by the analyzing unit 102. FIG. 36 is a diagram illustratingan example of the life patter file F501 in the third embodiment. Thelife pattern file F501 in the embodiment is different from the lifepattern file F500 in the first embodiment in that a control start timeperiod is omitted, only a COMPLETE required time period of each of thehousehold appliances is recorded, and a time period required from atransmission time of a mail until the time at which a householdappliance is brought to COMPLETE is used as a COMPLETE required timeperiod. In the example of the life pattern file F501 in FIG. 36, aCOMPLETE required time period is recorded for each of a water heater anda rice cooker. In this example, “20 MIN” and “45 MIN” are respectivelyrecorded as COMPLETE required time periods of the water heater and ofthe rice cooker. A control start time period is omitted in the lifepattern file F501, because in the embodiment, a control start timeperiod of a household appliance is calculated from a required homereturning time period.

3.3 Configuration of Portable Terminal 200 b

FIG. 37 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the portableterminal 200 b in the household appliance control system 10 b in thethird embodiment. The portable terminal 200 b in the embodiment isdifferent from the portable terminals 200 and 200 a in the first andsecond embodiments in that the predetermined condition database 207, 207a is omitted, and that a mail property checking unit 202 b is provided.Further, the portable terminal 200 b is provided with a user informationdatabase 208 and a place name information database 209. Alternatively, amail transmission detecting unit 201, a timer 205, the mail propertychecking unit 202 b, and a server notifying unit 203 may be implementedby providing a controller 3 b in the portable terminal 200 b with thefunctions of these elements. In the embodiment, the portable terminal200 b corresponds to an example of a portable information terminal.

3.3.1 Mail Property Checking Unit 202 b

The mail property checking unit 202 b checks the property of a mail inresponse to a mail transmission notification from the mail transmissiondetecting unit 201. In checking the mail property, the mail propertychecking unit 202 b checks whether the text of a latest mail in amessage database 206 includes a word indicating a place. When it isconfirmed that the text includes a word indicating a place, the mailproperty checking unit 202 b calculates a required home returning timeperiod from the place to the user's house, whose position information isrecorded in a user information file stored in the user informationdatabase 208. Then, the mail property checking unit 202 b calculates acontrol start time period of a household appliance, using the calculatedrequired home returning time period, and the COMPLETE required timeperiod recorded in the life pattern file F501.

3.3.2 User Information Database 208

The user information database 208 stores information indicating thephysical address of the user, as a user information file.

3.3.3 Place Name Information Database 209

The place name information database 209 stores information indicatingthe names of places on a map.

3.4 Operations of Household Appliance Control System 10 b

The operations of the household appliance control system 10 b includestwo operations, specifically, generation of a life pattern file, andhousehold appliance control on the basis of a generated life patternfile. Generation of a life pattern file is the same as in the firstembodiment. Therefore, description about generation of a life patternfile is omitted herein. In the following, operations of householdappliance control on the basis of a generated life pattern file F501 isdescribed referring to the drawings.

FIG. 38 is a sequence diagram illustrating a household appliance controloperation on the basis of a generated life pattern file F501.

The portable terminal 200 b activates a message transmitting/receivingapplication 215 (Step S3001). Subsequently, the mail transmissiondetecting unit 201 of the portable terminal 200 b checks whether a mailwas transmitted (Step S3002). When it is impossible to confirm that amail was transmitted (NO in Step S3002), the mail transmission detectingunit 201 checks whether a mail was transmitted in Step S3002. When it isconfirmed that a mail was transmitted (YES in Step S3002), the mailproperty checking unit 202 b of the portable terminal 200 b checkswhether the text of the mail includes a word indicating a place,referring to a place name information file stored in the place nameinformation database 209 (Step S3003).

The place name information file is recorded with words indicatingcertain places on a map, particularly, places which are likely to bedescribed in the text of a mail by the user. Therefore, as far as any ofthe words recorded in the place name information file is included in thetext of a mail, the mail property checking unit 202 b determines thatthe text of the mail includes a word indicating a place.

When it is confirmed that the text of the mail does not include a wordindicating a place (NO in Step S3003), the portable terminal 200 bchecks whether a mail was transmitted in Step S3002. When it isconfirmed that the text of the mail includes a word indicating a place(YES in Step S3003), the mail property checking unit 202 b determinesthe current position from the word (Step S3004). Subsequently, the mailproperty checking unit 202 b calculates a required home returning timeperiod from the current position to the house.

The place name information stored in the place name information database209 is such that place names and positions are recorded in associationwith each other. The positions may be latitudes and longitudes, or maybe physical addresses. Thus, the mail property checking unit 202 b mayspecify a position associated with a word as the current position.

Subsequently, the mail property checking unit 202 b may transmit, to anexternal server which provides services for calculating a required homereturning time period, the current position, and the position of theuser's house (the physical address, or the latitude and the longitude)so that the external server calculates the required home returning timeperiod. The external server may be implemented with a route searchingsystem for use in searching a best route of public transportation, or aroad searching system for use in searching a best road on a map. Theexternal server specifies the nearest station from the received positionof the user's house, using the road searching system. For instance, ifthe current position is a railway station, the external server inputsthe names of the station indicating the current position and of thenearest station in the route searching system, and calculates a requiredtime period from the station indicating the current position to thenearest station. Then, the external server inputs the positions of thenearest station and of the house in the road searching system, andcalculates a required time period for the user to walk home from thenearest station, for instance. Then, the external server may sum up therequired time periods, calculate a required home returning time period,and transmit the calculated time period to the portable terminal 200.

Subsequently, the mail property checking unit 202 b calculates a controlstart time period of each of the household appliances, using therequired home returning time period calculated in Step S3005, and theCOMPLETE required time period of each of the household appliancesrecorded in the life pattern file F501 (Step S3006). For instance, whenthe required home returning time period is calculated to be ten minutes,in the example illustrated in FIG. 36, the control start time period ofthe water heater is calculated to be 20 min−10 min=10 min, and thecontrol start time period of the rice cooker is calculated to be 45min−10 min=35 min. Then, the mail property checking unit 202 b mayrecord the calculated control start time period of each of the householdappliances in the life pattern file F501 stored in the life patterndatabase 210 a.

Subsequently, the portable terminal 200 b, the server 100 a, and thehousehold appliance 300 perform a household appliance control process(Step S1500). The household appliance control process in the embodimentis the same as in the first embodiment.

3.5 Advantageous Effects of Third Embodiment

In the first and second embodiments, the predetermined conditionrecorded in the predetermined condition file F800, F801 is used as thepredetermined condition, based on which household appliance control isstarted. In the third embodiment, a required home returning time periodis calculated from a word indicating a place to be included in the textof a mail, and a control start time period is calculated on the basis ofthe calculated required home returning time period. According to thisconfiguration, even if the user sends a mail from a place where the userusually does not send a mail when the user returns home, it is possibleto calculate a control start time period of a household appliance bycalculating a required home returning time period from a COMPLETErequired time period so as to control the household appliances. Further,as well as the first embodiment, in the third embodiment, the portableterminal 200 b also includes a life pattern file F501. According to thisconfiguration, it is possible for the portable terminal 200 b to remotecontrol the household appliances merely by transmitting an ON timernotification to the server 100 on the basis of the contents of the lifepattern file F501.

As described above, in the third embodiment, even if the user sends amail from a place where the user usually does not send a mail when theuser returns home, it is possible to control the household appliancesaccording to the user's behavior after the user returns home. Further,as well as the first embodiment, with use of the portable terminal 200b, it is possible to remote control the household appliances accordingto the user's life pattern, using a user's habitual behavior to beperformed when the user returns home.

The techniques described in the foregoing aspects can be implemented inthe following types of cloud services. However, the types of cloudservices in which the techniques described in the foregoing aspects canbe implemented are not limited to the above.

(Service Type 1: A Cloud Service Provided by a Datacenter of theApplicant's Company)

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an overview of services to be providedby a household appliance control system of service type 1 (a cloudservice provided by a datacenter of the applicant's company). In thistype, a service provider 1020 acquires information from a group 1000,and provides services to the user. In this type, the service provider1020 has the functions of a datacenter operating company. Specifically,the service provider 1020 owns a cloud server 1011 which manages bigdata. Therefore, actually, a datacenter operating company does notexist.

In this type, the service provider 1020 operates and manages adatacenter (cloud server) 2003. Further, the service provider 1020manages an operating system OS 2002 and an application 2001. The serviceprovider 1020 provides services with use of the OS 2002 and theapplication 2001 to be managed by the service provider 1020 (see thearrow 2004).

(Service Type 2: A Cloud Service Utilizing IaaS)

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an overview of services to be providedby a household appliance control system of service type 2 (a cloudservice utilizing IaaS). IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service.IaaS is a cloud service providing model configured to provide afoundation, based on which a computer system is configured and operated,as services via the Internet.

In this type, a datacenter operating company 1010 operates and manages adatacenter 2003 (cloud server). Further, a service provider 1020 managesan OS 2002 and an application 2001. The service provider 1020 providesservices with use of the OS 2002 and the application 2001 to be managedby the service provider 1020 (see the arrow 2004).

(Service Type 3: A Cloud Service Utilizing PaaS)

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating an overview of services to be providedby a household appliance control system of service type 3 (a cloudservice utilizing PaaS). PaaS stands for Platform as a Service. PaaS isa cloud service providing model configured to provide a platform, basedon which a software is configured and operated, as services via theInternet.

In this type, a datacenter operating company 1010 manages an OS 2002,and operates and manages a datacenter 2003 (cloud server). Further, aservice provider 1020 manages an application 2001. The service provider1020 provides services with use of the OS 2002 to be managed by thedatacenter operating company 1010 and the application 2001 to be managedby the service provider 1020 (see the arrow 2004).

(Service Type 4: A Cloud Service Utilizing SaaS)

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating an overview of services to be providedby a household appliance control system of service type 4 (a cloudservice utilizing SaaS). SaaS stands for Software as a Service. A cloudservice utilizing SaaS is e.g. a cloud service providing model havingfunctions, with which the user such as a company or a person who doesnot own a datacenter (a cloud server) is allowed to use an applicationprovided by a platform provider who owns the datacenter (a cloud server)via a network such as the Internet.

In this type, a datacenter operating company 1010 manages an application2001, manages an OS 2002, and operates and manages a datacenter (a cloudserver) 2003. Further, a service provider 1020 provides services, withuse of the OS 2002 and the application 2001 to be managed by thedatacenter operating company 1010 (see the arrow 2004).

As described above, in any of the cloud service types, the serviceprovider 1020 provides services. Further, for instance, a serviceprovider or a datacenter operating company may develop an OS, anapplication, or a database for big data by themselves, or may outsourcethe development to a third party.

4. Modifications

The invention has been described on the basis of each of theembodiments. It is needless to say that the invention is not limited bythe embodiments. The following modifications are included in theinvention.

(1) In the first to third embodiments, the confirmation screen G272 isdisplayed on the display of the portable terminal when the control starttime period of a household appliance has elapsed. Alternatively, theconfirmation screen G272 may be displayed on the display of the portableterminal before the portable terminal 200 transmits an ON timernotification to the server. When a user's consent to household appliancecontrol is input through the confirmation screen G272, the portableterminal may transmit an ON timer notification to the server.

In this case, an ON timer notification is transmitted after the user'sconsent is obtained so as to start measuring a time by the timer. Thismakes it possible to prevent power consumption when the user does notintend to start household appliance control.

(2) A predetermined keyword to be set in the second embodiment may beplural keywords. For instance, the user may set predetermined keywordssuch as Ueno” and “return”. In this case, “Ueno” is the name of thestation where the user always sends a mail when the user returns home.In this case, as fax as the text of a mail includes all of the keywordsor at least one of the keywords, the portable terminal may judge thatthe predetermined condition is satisfied. According to thisconfiguration, when the user always sends a mail from one station whenthe user returns home, the portable terminal may accurately judgewhether the received mail is a mail, based on which household appliancecontrol is started.

(3) In the second embodiment, a keyword to be used in the text of a mailis set as the predetermined condition. Alternatively, the text of a mailitself may be set as the predetermined condition. According to thisconfiguration, when the user always sends a mail including a fixedmessage when the user returns home, the portable terminal may easilyjudge whether the received mail satisfies the predetermined condition,without judging the keyword.

(4) In the first to third embodiments, when a gateway is installed inthe house 20, a part of the control to be performed by the server may beperformed by the gateway. For instance, analysis of the life pattern maybe performed by the server, and control of household appliances andmanagement of the operation states of the household appliances may beperformed by the gateway. This is advantageous in reducing the useamount of a memory in the server, and in reducing the processing load ofthe server.

(5) In the first and second embodiments, when the predeterminedcondition is confirmed, the user uses a predetermined time zone that isset in advance. Alternatively, the server may analyze the user's lifepattern, and may update a predetermined set time zone. In this case, theserver analyzes a time at which a mail transmission notification isreceived, and updates the predetermined time zone by setting a marginbefore and after the predetermined time zone that is set by the user, onthe basis of the analysis result. According to this configuration, theuser can start household appliance control even when the user sends amail at a time earlier than the time zone set by the user in advance byseveral minutes.

(6) In the first to third embodiments, the finishing condition of a dayto be used in generating a day-based household appliance control file isset in advance by the system. Alternatively, the user may set in advancethe finishing condition of a day according to the bedtime or the like.According to this configuration, it is possible to divide the user'slife pattern at the bedtime, even if the user goes to bed later than0:00.

(7) In the modification (6), when the finishing condition of a day isset, if the user's wakeup time and the user's bedtime are punctual, itis possible to generate a day-based household appliance control file bydividing the user's life pattern at the wakeup time and at the bedtime,and by collecting data on the household appliances during a time periodfrom the wakeup time to the bedtime. For instance, the user may set atime period from the wakeup time “6:00” to the bedtime “0:30” as a day.This makes it possible to collect only the operation states of thehousehold appliances necessary for analysis of the life pattern.

(8) In the first and second embodiments, a predetermined time zone setin advance by the user is used. When the analysis result of the lifepattern indicates an approximate time of a mail transmission time ondaily basis, a margin may be set for the predetermined time zone. Evenwhen the mail transmission time is out of the predetermined time zone,the portable terminal may determine that the mail transmission time isincluded in the predetermined time zone, as far as the deviation fromthe predetermined time zone is not larger than a threshold value. Thismakes it possible to start household appliance control on the basis of amail, which is transmitted at a time deviated from the predeterminedtime zone to some extent.

(9) In the first to third embodiments, the portable terminal controlsthe household appliances via the server. When a gateway is installed inthe house 20, it is possible to control the household appliances via thegateway, in place of the server. This makes it possible to control thehousehold appliances in the house without connecting a portable terminalto a server.

(10) FIG. 25A illustrates an ON timer notification 2500 for the waterheater. ON timer notifications 2500 for the other household appliancesare described as follows. FIG. 25B is a diagram illustrating an exampleof a data configuration of ON timer notifications 2500 for a variety oftypes of household appliances. In FIG. 25B, the first row illustrates anON timer notification 2500 for the air conditioner, the second rowillustrates an ON timer notification 2500 for the rice cooker, the thirdrow illustrates an ON timer notification 2500 for the microwave oven,and the fourth row illustrates an ON timer notification 2500 for thesteam cooker.

In any of the ON timer notifications 2500, “PORTABLE TERMINAL”indicating the name of the household appliance as a transmission source,“ON TIMER NOTIFICATION” indicating that the notification is an ON timernotification, and “CONTROL START TIME PERIOD” are described. Further, inthe ON timer notification 2500 for the air conditioner, “SETTEMPERATURE” indicating the set temperature of the air conditioner, and“AIR CONDITIONER” indicating the name of the household appliance as atransmission destination are described. Further, in the ON timernotifications 2500 for the rice cooker, the microwave oven, and thesteam cooker, “RICE COOKER”, “MICROWAVE OVEN”, and “STEAM COOKER” aredescribed as the names of the household appliances as transmissiondestinations, respectively. Regarding the rice cooker, the microwaveoven, and the steam cooker, the user may dispose food materials to becooked in the respective vessels in advance prior to start of thecontrol.

(11) In the first to third embodiments, each of the life pattern filesF500 and F501 has only one type. Alternatively, two or more types oflife pattern files may be generated according to the user's lifepattern. For instance, it is possible to generate a life pattern filerepresenting the life pattern on weekdays, and a life pattern filerepresenting the life pattern on weekends. In this case, the analyzingunit 102 in the server 100 may generate a life pattern file on weekendsby analyzing a day-based household appliance control file F400 onweekends, and may generate a life pattern file on weekdays by analyzinga day-based household appliance control file F400 on weekdays. Then, inthe case where the date when a mail that satisfies the predeterminedcondition is transmitted corresponds to a weekend, the condition settingunit 211 of the portable terminal 200 may control the householdappliances with use of the life pattern file on weekends, and in thecase where the date when a mail that satisfies the predeterminedcondition is transmitted corresponds to a weekday, the condition settingunit 211 of the portable terminal 200 may control the householdappliances with use of the life pattern file on weekdays.

Further, the analyzing unit 102 may classify a day-based householdappliance control file F400 by an early time zone when the user returnshome early, and by a late time zone when the user returns home latedepending on a mail transmission time; and may generate a life patternfile when the user returns home early by analyzing the day-basedhousehold appliance control file F400 belonging to the early time zonewhen the user returns home early, and generate a life pattern file whenthe user returns home late by analyzing the day-based householdappliance control file F400 belonging to the late time zone when theuser returns home late. Then, when the transmission time of a mail thatsatisfies the predetermined condition belongs to the early time zonewhen the user returns home early, the condition setting unit 211 of theportable terminal 200 may control the household appliances with use ofthe life pattern file to be used when the user returns home early, andwhen the transmission time of a mail that satisfies the predeterminedcondition belongs to the late time zone when the user returns home late,the condition setting unit 211 of the portable terminal 200 may controlthe household appliances with use of the life pattern file to be usedwhen the user returns home late. The early time zone when the userreturns home early is, for instance, a time zone earlier than theaverage time when the user returns home or earlier than the median oftimes when the user returns home. The late time zone when the userreturns home late is, for instance, a time zone later than the averagetime when the user returns home or later than the median of times whenthe user returns home. Further, the number of time zones afterclassification is not limited to two i.e. an early time zone when theuser returns home early and a late time zone when the user returns homelate. For instance, the time zone may be classified into three or moretime zones i.e. an early time zone when the user returns home early, anordinary time zone when the user returns home as usual, and a late timezone when the user returns home late.

(12) A part or all of the constituent elements constituting each of thedevices may be configured by one system LSI (Large Scale Integration).The system LSI is an ultra-multi-functional LSI fabricated byintegrating a plurality of components on one chip. Specifically, asystem LSI is a computer system constituted by a microprocessor, an ROM,and an RAM. The RAM stores a computer program thereon. The functions ofthe system LSI are accomplished by causing the microprocessor to operatein accordance with the computer program.

Further, each of the constituent elements constituting each of thedevices may be individually configured into a one-chip device, or a partor all of the constituent elements may be configured into a one-chipdevice.

Further, in this example, the integrated circuit is a system LSI. Theintegrated circuit may also be called as an IC (Integrated Circuit), anLSI, a super LSI, or an ultra LSI depending on the degree of integrationof the circuit. Further, the circuit integration method is not limitedto an LSI method. The integrated circuit may be implemented by adedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. Further, an FPGA(Field Programmable Gate Array) capable of programming after fabricatingan LSI, or a reconfigurable processor capable of reconfiguringconnection or setting of circuit cells within an LSI after fabricatingthe LSI may also be used.

Further, if an integration circuit technology substantially equivalentto the LSI technology is developed in the future by the progress of asemiconductor technology or by another technology derived from thesemiconductor technology, it is needless to say that the functionalblocks are integrated by using the technology. Further, a bio-technologymay be applied.

(13) A part or all of the constituent elements constituting each of theaforementioned devices may be constituted by an IC card detachablymounted on each of the devices, or by a single module. The IC card orthe module is a computer system provided with a microprocessor, an ROM,and an RAM. The IC card or the module may include theultra-multi-functional LSI. The functions of the IC card or of themodule are accomplished by causing a microprocessor to operate inaccordance with a computer program. The IC card or the module may have atampering resistance.

(14) The invention may be directed to the aforementioned methods.Further, the invention may be directed to a computer program thatimplements one of these methods on a computer, or may be directed todigital signals constituted by the computer program.

Further, the invention may be directed to a computer-readable recordingmedium recorded with the computer program or the digital signals such asa flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, a DVD, a DVD-ROM, aDVD-RAM, a BD (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc), or a semiconductormemory. Further, the invention may be directed to digital signalsrecorded on one of these recording media.

Further, the invention may be directed to a configuration, in which thecomputer program or the digital signals are transmitted via atelecommunication line, a wireless communication line, a wiredcommunication line, a network as represented by the Internet, or databroadcasting.

Further, the invention may be directed to a computer system providedwith a microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory stores thecomputer program, and the microprocessor is operated in accordance withthe computer program.

Further, the invention may be implemented by another independentcomputer system by recording the computer program or the digital signalson the recording medium for transferring, or by transferring thecomputer program or the digital signals via the network or the like.

(15) The invention may be combination of any one of the embodiments andany one of the modifications.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is advantageously used in a device system forremote controlling household appliances in a house via a network.

1. A method for controlling a portable information terminal connectableto a network, to which a target device in a house, or a server forcontrolling the target device is connected, the portable informationterminal being provided with a mail communication function, the controlmethod causing a computer of the portable information terminal to:extract, from a mail to be transmitted by the mail communicationfunction, address information of the mail to be transmitted when it isdetected that the mail communication function is activated; extract atransmission time of the mail to be transmitted from the portableinformation terminal; judge whether the address information matchespredetermined address information, with use of a first database in whichthe predetermined address information is registered; judge whether thetransmission time belongs to a predetermined time zone, with use of asecond database in which the predetermined time zone is registered; anddetermine an activation time at which the target device is to beactivated on the basis of the transmission time, and transmit, to thenetwork, a control command for activating the target device at theactivation time when it is judged that the address information matchesthe predetermined address information and that the transmission timebelongs to the predetermined time zone.
 2. The control method accordingto claim 1, wherein the portable information terminal includes a memorywhich manages management information indicating that the target deviceis to be activated after elapse of a predetermined time period from thetransmission time of the mail including the predetermined addressinformation, and the activation time at which the target device is to beactivated on the basis of the transmission time is determined on thebasis of the management information.
 3. The control method according toclaim 2, wherein the management information is received from the servervia the network.
 4. The control method according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol command is transmitted to the target device via the networkthrough the server.
 5. The control method according to claim 1, whereinthe control command is transmitted to the target device via the network.6. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the target device inthe house is a water heater for supplying water to a bathtub in thehouse, and the control command is an instruction to supply water fromthe water heater to the bathtub.
 7. The control method according toclaim 6, wherein the control command includes information indicating aset temperature of the water to be supplied.
 8. The control methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the control command includes informationindicating a time at which supplying water from the water heater to thebathtub is started.
 9. The control method according to claim 1, whereinthe target device in the house is an air conditioner which adjusts atemperature of at least one room in the house, and the control commandis an instruction to adjust the temperature of the one room to apredetermined temperature by the air conditioner.
 10. The control methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the control command includes informationindicating a time at which adjusting the temperature of the one room isstarted by the air conditioner.
 11. The control method according toclaim 1, wherein the target device in the house is a cooking heaterwhich performs heat-controlled cooking, and the control command is aninstruction to start the heat-controlled cooking by the cooking heater.12. The control method according to claim 11, wherein the controlcommand includes information indicating a time at which theheat-controlled cooking by the cooking heater is started.
 13. Thecontrol method according to claim 11, wherein the cooking heater is arice cooker.
 14. The control method according to claim 11, wherein thecooking heater is provided with a microwave generating means.
 15. Thecontrol method according to claim 11, wherein the cooking heater is asteam cooker provided with a steam generating means.
 16. The controlmethod according to claim 3, further comprising: collecting controlstart time periods, each of which indicates a time period from thetransmission time of the mail until the time at which the target deviceis to be activated, and recording a control start time period having ahigh frequency among the collected control start time periods in themanagement information.
 17. A method for controlling a portableinformation terminal connectable to a network, to which a target devicein a house, or a server for controlling the target device is connected,the portable information terminal being provided with a mailcommunication function, the control method causing a computer of theportable information terminal to: judge whether a mail to be transmittedby the mail communication function includes a predetermined word, withuse of a first database in which the predetermined word is registered,when it is detected that the mail communication function is activated;extract a transmission time of the mail to be transmitted from theportable information terminal; judge whether the transmission timebelongs to a predetermined time zone, with use of a second database inwhich the predetermined time zone is registered; and determine anactivation time at which the target device is to be activated on thebasis of the transmission time, and transmit, to the network, a controlcommand for activating the target device at the activation time when itis judged that the mail includes the predetermined word and that thetransmission time belongs to the predetermined time zone.
 18. A methodfor controlling a portable information terminal connectable to anetwork, to which a target device in a house, or a server forcontrolling the target device is connected, the portable informationterminal being provided with a mail communication function, the controlmethod causing a computer of the portable information terminal to: judgewhether a mail to be transmitted by the mail communication functionincludes a predetermined word indicating a place, with use of a firstdatabase in which the predetermined word is registered, when it isdetected that the mail communication function is activated; extract atransmission time of the mail to be transmitted from the portableinformation terminal; determine a position of the portable informationterminal at the transmission time of the mail on the basis of the wordindicating the place, with use of a database which manages the wordindicating the place and position information in association with eachother; calculate a time period required for a user of the portableinformation terminal to return home on the basis of the transmissiontime and on the basis of the position information; calculate anactivation time of the target device for use in setting the targetdevice to a predetermined state at a predetermined time after elapse ofthe required time period, on the basis of the transmission time and onthe basis of the required time period; and transmit, to the network, acontrol command for activating the target device at the calculatedactivation time.
 19. A non-transitory computer-readable recoding mediumwhich stores a program which causes a computer of a portable informationterminal connectable to a network, to which a target device in a house,or a server for controlling the target device is connected, to executethe following, the portable information terminal being provided with amail communication function; extracting, from a mail to be transmittedby the mail communication function, address information of the mail tobe transmitted when it is detected that the mail communication functionis activated; extracting a transmission time of the mail to betransmitted from the portable information terminal; judging whether theaddress information matches predetermined address information, with useof a first database in which the predetermined address information isregistered; judging whether the transmission time belongs to apredetermined time zone, with use of a second database in which thepredetermined time zone is registered; and determining an activationtime at which the target device is to be activated on the basis of thetransmission time, and transmitting, to the network, a control commandfor activating the target device at the activation time when it isjudged that the address information matches the predetermined addressinformation and that the transmission time belongs to the predeterminedtime zone.